Press Advisory


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAACP IS PREPARED TO RESPOND TO RACIAL PROFILING AND DISPARATE TREATMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AND SOUTH KING COUNTY

The Seattle/King County Branch of the NAACP is deeply concerned about what appears to be a dramatic increase in racial profiling of African American youth in the Central District and South King County. We will be bringing two particularly egregious cases that have occurred in the past month to the attention of the public. One case involves an African American Juvenile Probation Officer who was grabbed by police officers and verbally harassed when she attempted to explain to police officers that one of the children on her case load had done nothing wrong. The other case involves a high school student at Garfield who has consistently been stopped and harassed by police officers. On multiple occasions his white counterparts have witnessed the officers swearing at the high school student while telling him that he will never amount to anything in his life. This behavior is appalling and must be stopped. It adversely impacts the self identity of our children and impacts their ability to succeed. Additionally, this sort of treatment undermines the objectives of programs that are geared toward helping youth.

We will also be talking about the steps that the NAACP will be taking to empower youth and what steps we will be taking to protect against racial profiling.

Presenters at the press conference:

1. The Juvenile Probation officer that was harassed by police officers;
2. The Garfield High School student that was harassed by Police; and
3. James Bible, President of the NAACP

When: Monday 9/29/08

11:15 p.m.

Where: Seattle Urban League Building

105 14th Avenue
Suite C, 1st Floor
Seattle, WA 98122