Thursday, July 21, 2005

A Thought on Profiling

I just heard that the NYPD is instituting random searches on buses and subways—but promises "no racial profiling."

Practically speaking, this means that if I—a blonde woman who totes a couple of bags—am sitting on one side of you on the subway and a Muslim-looking man with a backpack is sitting on your other side, the cop will make it a point to search only me.

Do you feel safer?

UPDATE: Word is that the searches will be at turnstiles, and will be according to the number of people passing through—e.g. every fifth or tenth or 15th person will be searched, but again, with no attention to their race or other characteristics that might cause police to be accused of discrimination.