Evan Schnell wrote this in response to Jordan Kushner,
in part:
"CODEFOR still requires a crime to be committed to be
stopped. Tagging, jaywalking, and driving a damaged
car are illegal. There is nothing inherently
oppressive about stopping people who do these things."
With all due respect to Mr. Schnell, I must vehemently
disagree. For the sake of public civiity I will stop
there.
I have spent the better part of twelve hours this past
week listening to State Senate hearings into racial
profiling. Not even the most obstreperous
obstructionists debate the fac tthat racial profiling
exists.
People of color are stopped all the time for no crime.
They are stopped because of the color of their skin.
Just one piece of testimony from Representative
Richard Jefferson (ret) giving three examples.
1. Mr Jefferson, on his way home from a ski trip to
Giants ridge, travelling in the middle car of a three
car caravan was pulled over by police who excused
themselves saying "he seemed to be going over the
limit". When police became aware he was a former state
rep. (he presumed) they sent him on his way. Now in a
caravan you tend to go the speed of your fellow
drivers so this would suggest police singled Mr
Jefferson out from among his friends.
2. In Spring Lake Park one evening at approx. 11pm Mr.
Jefferson, his wife (alice johnson, another former
legislator) and their granddaughter were pulled over
by police exiting mcDonalds. The officer asked whee
Mr. Jefferson was headed and he said home to which the
officer said "it says here", holding the license, "you
live in Mpls." at which point Ms Johnson provided her
license with their address nearby which I presume was
Ms Johnson's original residence.
Do we need more. Hell, why not.
3. This incident involved Mr. Jefferson's son who was
driving to Mr Jeferson's lake home with his family
when he was pulled over by police.
Mr. Jefferson asked why he was being pulled over. The
officer said "your seat belt wasn't fastened. Mr J.
said "that is not a primary offense" meaning its not
probable cause to stop a person and issue a ticket.
Next the officer stated "you have an obstruction on
your mirror" to which Mr. J. said "that is not large
enough to constitute an obstruction."
Mr. Jefferson you see is a St Paul police officer
which the cop was made aware of when Mr. J. showed him
his license and badge.
Incidentally they are considering a bill at the
capitol to make not wearing a seat belt in the front
seat a primary offense punishable by a $25 fine. This
will make it even easier for the police to stop
people.
It is interesting that our Governor, such an ardent
opponent of not trying to legislate stupidity and a
general libertarian bent would support the bill.
Isuspect the idea of a PR campaign with 100 billboards
around the state with his likeness on them has a lot
to do with his acquiescence.
Tim Connolly
Ward 7
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