ADC Submits Statement For the Record

posted on: Apr 17, 2012

Earlier today the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) submitted a Statement for the Record before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights. The Statement discusses racial profiling and its affect on the Arab American community, as well as the importance of enacting the End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA).

In the Statement for the Record, ADC stated that “[t]he detrimental affects of racial profiling cause communities to mistrust the government and fuel the perception of the criminal justice system as biased and unjust. . . Of striking importance is the fact that there is not one documented incident in which racial profiling resulted in the capture or detention of a suspect related to terrorism, again showing that racial profiling does not work.” Furthermore, ADC stated that “ERPA is necessary to help guard against racial profiling and civil right abuses. Throughout the U.S. Federal and local agencies must be held accountable for violating the Constitution and discriminating against any minority community.”

ADC remains persistent in its efforts to end racial profiling. Unfortunately, racial profiling has been pervasive throughout American history. Of particular importance to the Arab American community are the different forms of racial profiling post–9/11. From TSA interrogations to local law enforcement’s infringement on privacy to immigration delays, racial profiling negatively affects Arab Americans each day.

As ADC has unequivocally stated since its founding, racial profiling is a dangerous problem – for minority communities and for the greater American population. ADC strongly urges Congress pass ERPA into active legislation to protect the civil rights of all Americans.