In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Racial profiling at McGill

(The McGill Daily) McGill student says she was a victim of racial profiling. Standing in a downtown metro station, she says five security guards accosted and arrested her after she questioned them about a ticket they wrote her. She says the ticket was a result of asking the guards to speak in English. "These kinds of incidences happen and it is a systemic problem. It...has serious consequences for communities," says Adrienne Gibson, a civil rights advocate.

1.

Because freedom can protect itself!

American Civil Liberties Union
The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee. The ACLU is powered 200 staff attorneys, thousands of volunteer attorneys and 500,000 members and supporters. It lobbies Capitol Hill and state legislatures working on civil liberty issues like racial profiling and has staffed offices in all 50 states.

2.

Action for human rights. Hope for humanity

Amnesty International USA
Amnesty International is a grassroots activist organization with over 1.8 million members worldwide. Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) is the U.S. Section of Amnesty International. It defines racial profiling as occurring "when race is used by law enforcement or private security officials, to any degree, as a basis for criminal suspicion in non-suspect specific investigations." It says, "discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, nationality or on any other particular identity undermines the basic human rights and freedoms to which every person is entitled."

3.

Racial profiling stats about the polls - blog

Ethnic Majority
EthnicMajority.com was launched in 2002 to educate, assist, and empower African, Hispanic, and Asian Americans to achieve advancement in politics, business, at work, and society in general. It was founded by Clifford Tong, CEO of Diverse Strategies, a business and management consulting firm in Oakland, California. This part of the site contains a blog post by Tong examining the issue of polls that cover racial profiling and suggests that its largely about, "how you ask the question." It also includes a definition of racial profiling and offers on advice on what to do if you are stopped.

4.

Data bank

Racial profiling data collection center
The Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern University utilizes strategic social science research methodologies to assist government agencies, educational institutions, and members of the community in the development of policy changes that advanced the cause of social justice. This site offers some background information on racial profiling, details on community and civil rights initiatives, reporting and analysis resources and a library of archived research.

5.

The Gates Case and Racial Profiling

New York Times Blog
This blog comes from the New York times. It organizes the thoughts of experts on the topic of racial profiling. It asks if the Gates case is an example of racial profiling, how far have the U.S. has progressed in reducing that problem (through federal monitoring of law enforcement agencies and the like), and what more might be done?