Misunderstanding Civil Rights

Aside from being in a suspicious area around equally suspicious people, when was the last time you were concerned about being harassed by the police? We are constantly and consistently told that racial profiling in Oklahoma City does not exist. Chief Citty has stated that if this police department is engaged in such activity, it will not be tolerated and the officers in question will be dealt with accordingly on a case-by-case basis. Well it does make for an excellent press release. However, it appears that the press release is as far as it goes.

Oklahoma City is full civil rights violations, mishaps, calamities. There are times, more often than not, when we get it right, but when we mess it up it is to lights, music, and Rockettes.

The major problem with the police department is that its job is to protect and service and that has been lost in translation. There appears to be choice as to whom they protect and rarely does anyone see any true service. What happened to days when we did not have to fear a police officer and actually considered the great majority as friends?

BWD (Black While Driving) has been transformed to driving while Hispanic, Arab. There is still the belief that Black men in sagging pants, driving a 08 anything has to be dealing drugs. The thought that he could be a company executive on his day off is just out of the question. There have been documented beatings of homeless, drug-addicts. Even homeowners have no rights. Police officers on the word of unreliable witnesses have broken into homes. There are definitive divisions between black, white, Asian, Hispanic, gay, straight. Each is treated differently. From all appearances, it seems the white people get the best treatment while black gay men receive the worst.

I have considered boring you with statistics. I've never been a really good number cruncher, but seeing and 18year old girl weighing 120pounds being beaten by 3 police officers doesn't seem to need numbers. When a 14 year old boy has his head smashed through a wall and 6 months after being cuffed, there are still wrist marks, one doesn't need statistics.

Far from rousing suspicion of law officials, I want to educate them. Therefore, my next series of articles will concentrate on civil rights and how to apply them to Oklahoma City.

I am looking forward to the dialogue.