SUPPORT FOR END RACIAL PROFILING ACT

WHEREAS, although the Bush administration is on record opposing racial profiling, little has been done to fulfill its commitment to end it. In fact, since 9/11, it has expanded the use of racial profiling, with a variety of immigration and law enforcement policies targeting Muslim, Arab and South Asian men; and

WHEREAS, this expansion of racial profiling contributes to a climate of discrimination that indirectly encourages hate crimes against certain minority groups by conveying the message that such discrimination is acceptable and helpful in fighting terrorism; and

WHEREAS, racial profiling is in violation of at least two international treaties to which the United States is a party, the U.N. Convention for Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); and

WHEREAS, Rep. Conyers and Sen. Feingold have introduced H.R. 3847 and S. 2132, the End Racial Profiling Act of 2004 (ERPA), which will prohibit racial profiling at the federal, state and local levels, monitor law enforcement tactics, and provide a mechanism to receive and contend with complaints of racial profiling:

RESOLVED, that the AFT endorse ERPA and lobby Congress for its passage. [Executive Council, February 2005]