Racist & Illegal: Justice Department Slams Baltimore Police for Targeting Black Residents

Story by Democracy Now
DOJ Report Download: https://www.justice.gov/opa/file/883366/download

A Justice Department investigation has concluded Baltimore police have carried out a practice of racially discriminatory policing by systematically stopping, searching and arresting black residents at a disproportionate rate.

"BPD engages in a pattern or practice of making unconstitutional stops, searches and arrests; using enforcement strategies that produce severe and unjustified disparities in the rates of stops searches and arrests of African-Americans; using excessive force and retaliating against people engaging in constitutionally protected expression," said Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General Vanita Gupta.

The 163-page report revealed "supervisors have issued explicitly discriminatory orders, such as directing a shift to arrest 'all the black hoodies' in a neighborhood." We speak to Baltimore-based reporter Baynard Woods and activist Ralikh Hayes, the coordinator of Baltimore Bloc, a grassroots collective.
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Department of Justice Report: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-findings-investigation-baltimore-police-department

DOJ Report Download: https://www.justice.gov/opa/file/883366/download
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