This is the essay title i am currently working on and in my research i have uncovered some horrifying facts. For example, sections 44 and 45 of the Terrorism Act 2000 allow police to stop and search individuals or vehicles "whether or not the constable has grounds for suspecting the presence of articles of that kind", here articles of that kind is defined as "articles of a kind which could be used in connection with terrorism" HA! What would they consider those to be?! Using this piece of legislation a uniformed police officer in England can search you and all of your belongings and even "headgear, footwear, an outer coat, a jacket or gloves" for no reason at all. This legislation has been deemed by the Strasbourg Court to go against article 8 of the Human Rights act, the right to private and family life, yet it is still being used! This law is used by the police to display openly racist behaviour as they are now able to target potential terrorists based on nothing but individual prejudices. Through this legislation ethnic minorities are openly linked to criminal behaviour and stigmatised by the public. Unfortunately the only thing i can do for now is vent my frustration through my essays, but mark my words, one day i will be qualified and i will be doing everything i can to stop those in power from abusing it further.
Casa Robino
Shared Hospitality Excavations
Does racial profiling amount to wrongful discrimination?
Comments
any state...
... just guarantees the status quo, because it is formed by "those in power" (otherwise they weren't). Equality can't exist in a hierarchical political system, the constitutions, "checks and balances", courts etc. are just as functional as equal power is distributed. Institutional authority is detached from peoples acceptance of it (contrary e.g. to the authority that you entitle your dentist over your teeth) and therefore always (ab)uses it's power on people. This is not an unfortunate mistake, it's a direct consequence of the assignment of power in a democracy.
In the States...
It's been like this since the Patriot Act. Even before, it was pretty easy for police to defend their racist actions with very flimsy excuses. Nowadays, 'reasonable suspicion' is all that is necessary to search and detain someone in the US, under the patriot act. And that's without assuming they are a terrorist.
The 'civilized' world is going to hell.