Letter to the Editor re: Racial Profiling

I was stopped by the Sierra Madre police department because he said, “I want to see if you have any warrants.”  My response was, “why should I have warrants, I’m just riding my bicycle to catch up to my girlfriend whose (sic) walking our dogs ahead of me.” 

That turned out to be a lesson about racial profiling that has left a sour taste in my mouth about being African American in Sierra Madre.  I thought I was free to ride my bicycle anywhere, not in Sierra Madre.  I thought by electing an African-American president (it) was a sign that white people have finally stopped acting racist, not in Sierra Madre.  I thought if I am not doing anything wrong I would not be hassled, not in Sierra Madre. 

I must put the word out, if you are African-American, STAY OUT OF SIERRA MADRE, CALIFORNIA.

Antiq Soul

Editor’s Note:  I spoke with Chief Marilyn Diaz, and she asked me to encourage you to contact her directly at (626) 355-5247,  and said “I assure any complainant if an issue is brought to our attention, we will investigate it and take appropriate action.  Racial profiling is not a practice we condone in Sierra Madre.”