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Yesterday, Marc Lamont Hill (pictured), the only voice of reason over at Fox News, a Columbia University professor and a pundit that speaks eloquently on a variety of topics filed a $1 million lawsuit against the Philadelphia police.
Based on his tweets, where he alleges cops harassed him for driving a nice car after dropping someone off, it seems there will be no beer summit to resolve this one. Take a look:
Cop: "Nice car. How do u afford this?" Me: "I work."
They pull me out the car and go through all my stuff.
Without asking, cop opens the door and starts going through my glove box & arm rest compartment.
Cop finds my checkbook: "This says Dr. on it. Who's is it?" Me: "Mine." Him: "What do u do?" How is this relevant?
Now he says to me: "I'm gonna let u go. No tickets. Just want u to be safe." GTFOH. He didn't give me a ticket bc I didn't do s%&t.
This is NOT a case of driving while black. It's a case of patrolling while racist. They're the issue, not me.
Hill is seeking a trial by jury, saying that the officer searched his car without warrant or permission. In other media reports, Hill also alleges in the suit that the officer slammed him against his vehicle, pushed his fist in to his back and threatened to take him to jail.
Hill claims the officers violated his First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights:
"The Constitutional violations suffered by the Plaintiff were the result of the City's policies, procedures, customs and practices of allowing its officers to make stops without reasonable suspicion, and to use reasonable and excessive force, thereby violating the civil rights of those with whom they come into contact," Hill's lawyer Leonard K. Hill said.
In 2008, three former white Philadelphia police officers won a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the city for breaking the blue code of silence in 1997 to fight racism. They reported racism against three black officers. One officer alleged that a ranking officer said, "I'm going to get that n--- Sanford." The officer said when he let a black female officer in his police car to get out of the rain, a ranking officer told him, "You'll feel what's it like to work with a n----. Take the vehicle back and you're going to stand out there with her," among many other incidents.
While Hill's case seems difficult to prove, particularly if there were no witnesses to corroborate his story, it does send a message about racial profiling. What is most interesting about this case is how many people in the Twitter universe, bloggers and in the media were quick to accuse Hill of lying rather than accuse the cop of misconduct. That sentiment is part of the root of the problem. This lawsuit probably won't make it to the courtroom or solve entrenched racism, but it will put the spotlight back on Philadelphia police.
Comments: (27)
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By: James Harris on 10/16/2010 3:21PM
I don’t know if Hill’s story is true or not, but knowing what I know, it’s likely to be mostly true. I’m a black man who’s lived in Philly my entire life. I’ve been driving for about 25 years. I’ve been stopped by the police many times, but only stopped for an actual violation 2 or 3 times. All the other stops were questionable in my book. I’ve been watched by officers while getting into my car at malls and shopping centers. They would follow me out of the parking lot and then pull me over once I enter the street. They always come up with some stupid excuse for pulling me over just so they can check my papers. I am a black man, 6.1 and 200 lb. I dress mostly in blue jeans and designer T shirts. I’m brown skinned, full bearded with slightly bushy hair. I work for a living and no matter what car I’m driving, they keep pulling me over. I have to say that they are usually nice to me and not once have they given me a ticket. I’m used to it, sad to say, but I’m also tired of it. The police in the surrounding suburbs are just as bad though. When I see someone that’s been pulled over by the police, I always look to see if the driver is black and for the most part they usually are.
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By: Dian on 10/16/2010 7:47PM
I understand what you are saying. I am a mother of three young Black men! They have all been stopped by the police for no reason in this small town I grew up in. I have one son who has fought at least three tickets including two DUI'S and failure to wear a seat belt while in his driveway! He has won each case! Just last week he was heading to "WORK" on a rainy evening. his vehicle ran off the narrow road he traveled and messed his vehicle up. Cops did not ask if he was alright, yet tested him for alcohol. He blew into the machine which came up 00! They cuffed him, charged him with DUI and held him for five hrs then let him go. I don't get it! Are the courts blind to this waste of taxpayers money! Or are the police being allowed to harass people of color just because they can?
What can we do about this kind of treatment? I am so worn out from worrying about what is happening to my sons!
We want to file, but are told the justice system here works for eachother!
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By: johnfla488 on 10/16/2010 11:36PM
You recount your experience with Philly police harrassment yet you withhold full acceptance of Dr Hill's story. I hope there's perhaps cruiser cam footaqge otherwise many people won't give the brother the benefit of the doubt.
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By: David on 10/16/2010 11:48PM
This lawsuit isn't going to do anything about racism in the Philadelphia police dept. The so call liberal media has some culpability in this because they turn a blind eye to what's going on. The Philly press wont even cover this type of issue if there is no video evidence. The cops are always portrayed as heroes in the news media whether they deserve to or not.
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By: unknown on 10/16/2010 5:31PM
I do not doubt the authenticity of the story. However, aren't cops supposed to ask to search your vehicle? It's you constitutional right to say no. I would ask if they have probable cause, or else I’m out.
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By: Joe on 10/16/2010 5:41PM
Kiss my royal Italian butt...I KNOWS MY RIGHTS, I BE GONNA SUE...it seems like ghetto class folks always KNOWS They RIGHTS.
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By: dre on 10/17/2010 10:08AM
Instead of your clever wit, you may garner a few more points with the royal Italian elite by using intelligent grammar and composition. I'll enlighten you a bit: We know our rights and we are inclined to believe that you are the epitome of an undereducated moron. You appear to love the act of an emotional emetic episode when jealous pangs get the best of you.
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By: ThePlayer on 10/17/2010 2:52PM
The Doctor's exact scenario happened to me when I was coming back into town in a major US city getting off work. Some slight differences in the details, but nearly the exact same scenario.
My friend's wife stated I should do what this gentleman is doing as well.
My vehicle was searched, dogs brought out to do a drug search, approximately 10 separate police cars, with about 15 officers, inclusive of state troopers and city police. Result: ticket for not having my insurance card. Reason: left it at home in another wallet.
Talk about wasted resources. I was searched. This has gone on for the last four decades, in differing cities across America where I have lived and visited. I usually keep a nice car as this gentleman had (his is probably nicer since he's probably in a higher income bracket; maybe a Bentley or one of those big Benzes.)
I gather Black folks ain't supposed to have shiggedy. We need to set up a national web site to report all these incidences and fight all of these occurences. It's then and only then that the wasted resources and shootings by officers of innocent persons of color will cease.
What is so unfortunate is that even other Black persons who maybe don't drive nice cars, who therefore don't have these experiences, think that you're (meaning me) are just complaining. They don't experience this harrasment and intimidation.
I can recall that Walt 'Clyde' Frazier (former New York Knick, who was quite popular at the time, being on TV and all), stating in an article years ago, that he was standing outside a nice restaurant in New York City and a caucasian woman asked him to get her car....
I guess some white folk just cannot phatom a Black man or woman being anything but beneath them. It's sad.
Now I've had other non-Black persons, meaning whites and Hispanics, tell me about their unwarranted stops by the police. With the whites it is usually because their dopers, or long haired hippy types. Not that is OK to stop them, but they look out of the norm. My experience is that Hispanics get pulled over similarly to Blacks.... just because.
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By: realdwn2erth on 10/16/2010 6:43PM
I believe him, whole-heartedly! Nowadays; all white cops, are fn racist!.. Yes! That's right! I said it!...
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By: David on 10/16/2010 11:27PM
@ Whitey
I wish O J did you and all racist like you. This world would be a better place.
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