NAACP accusing Hartford police of racial profiling

The NAACP is accusing the police department of not doing enough to fight racism and they want the federal government to step in to make sure changes are made. Members of the Hartford chapter of the NAACP want the U.S. justice department to come in and take a look at the Hartford police department. They say a 1973 court decision aimed at ending racism is not being carried out 30 years later.  Scot Esdiale, NAACP president, said his concern began last summer when an investigation was launched into allegations that an officer was told by a police lieutenant to arrest any black men who were not wearing business suits in the downtown area. A written statement quoted the lieutenant as saying: "... if they are not white and are not wearing a suit, I want them in the back of my car, and find something to arrest them for." The charges were never proven, but the lieutenant was demoted to sergeant.  The NAACP said that incident was just the latest in 30 years of racial profiling. "I'm very much concerned about the racial profiling and then there is the decision that should have been implemented 30 years ago,"said Esdiale. [more]