I don't know why I haven't been aware of New York City's "Stop and Frisk" policy until recently. It probably has a lot to do with me not being black or Latino and not living in NYC. If you don't know what this program is, you can read the Wikipedia article about it here.
This program is appalling. The idea that it's okay to stop people on the street just on suspicion that they're doing something wrong is a violation of the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reads:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Apparently the Supreme Court disagrees with me and says that this is constitutional, but I don't care. If a disproportionate number of people of color are being stopped, there's something really really wrong here. This program is not being applied fairly and even if it was, it's still an unreasonable search of someone. Where are all the Republicans who are complaining about Obamacare being a violation of liberty while this is going on?
So, I say to this program: Do not Pass Go, Do Not Collect Taxpayer Dollars. Hopefully the new mayor will put an end to this program, because I think it's wrong.
This program is appalling. The idea that it's okay to stop people on the street just on suspicion that they're doing something wrong is a violation of the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reads:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Apparently the Supreme Court disagrees with me and says that this is constitutional, but I don't care. If a disproportionate number of people of color are being stopped, there's something really really wrong here. This program is not being applied fairly and even if it was, it's still an unreasonable search of someone. Where are all the Republicans who are complaining about Obamacare being a violation of liberty while this is going on?
So, I say to this program: Do not Pass Go, Do Not Collect Taxpayer Dollars. Hopefully the new mayor will put an end to this program, because I think it's wrong.
The Daily Show, "Frisky Business"
Whoa, I've never heard of this. Shame, shame, shame.
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