TSA Accused of Racial Profiling During Airport 'Chat-Downs': Is Racial Profiling OK?

by mrosen814 Posted 2012/08/14 18:00:00

Related Topics: TSA, Logan Airport, Racial Profiling

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	Yes	664 votes	52%
	No	608 votes	48%

TSA agents at Boston's Logan airport are being investigated over claims of racial profiling of "Middle Easterners, Hispanics and blacks." According to USA Today, "the chat-down program at Boston and Detroit airports is at the fore of TSA's effort to focus security on the riskiest passengers, rather than treating all travelers the same."

TRAVEL.USATODAY.COM reports:
The TSA says government investigators are looking at complaints of racial profiling in the chat-down program at Boston's Logan airport.

+29

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Depsycho 2012/08/14 18:59:08

No

+31
Terrorists do not HAVE a race. Nor do thieves, abusers, or murderers.
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More polls by mrosen814

P. Sturm 2012/09/16 07:04:14

Yes

But only if race is a definitive factor.

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adeenmckenziekennedy 2012/09/09 00:00:10

No

No! I am an minority and I believe that racial profiliing is never okay.

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Stacy Turner 2012/09/06 06:39:31

No

The Patriot Act is for cowards. Home of the brave...lol.

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Riku Xander 2012/09/03 03:33:10

No

Racial profiling will never be ok.

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george 2012/08/28 15:11:03

Yes

+2
The people in Israel have no problems with their airports. We should be doing what they are doing. They have safe airports.

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Frannin 2012/08/27 03:59:38

No

No, it is not and furthermore, it is unamerican.

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Luna Wren 2012/08/25 21:17:56

No

Race has nothing to do with character

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Rob 2012/08/22 20:58:16 (edited)

No

Though I believe racial profilling is wrong in a "perfect world". One has to face the reality that we are an imperfect species thus will all experience our individual predjudices. To prove my point honestly answer the following 3 questions & tell me that we all are guilty of racial profiling.
1. Who usually can be found driving a Toyota pickup under the speed limit holding up traffic?
2. If you are behind a Jeep Cherokee with politically conservative bumper stickers what might the race of the driver be?
3. And who would you guess is piloting the shiny Cyrsler 300 with the "bling" wheels & blaring rap music that just passed you?

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Crische 2012/08/22 17:29:23

Yes

+2
It's called a person's attitude/aura. Color of skin is but one facet of what makes a person tick. Security shouldn't feel obligated to 'let the foreign guy go' and choose an innocent looking whatever person just to be politically correct. Use instinct, try to have some depth perception.

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Luna Wren to Crische 2012/08/25 21:19:40

But you shouldn't pick someone of a Hispanic or black background just because they are Hispanic or black. You pick someone out because they look suspicious.

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Crische to Luna Wren 2012/08/26 17:47:48

Exactly.

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fightin... to Luna Wren 2012/08/27 20:27:17

or because they fit the description

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fantastic.drew1 2012/08/21 22:28:51

No

Radicals come in many different colors so why are you only focusing on a few and not everyone? That makes me scared that there personal agenda is getting in the way of our safety, as an American I demand you treat every race the same.

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fightingquip 2012/08/21 20:21:11

Yes

+1
Instead of using the term 'racial profiling,' why don't we just stick with "common sense." In other words, if the shoe fits........

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Luna Wren to fightin... 2012/08/25 21:21:19

First off, common sense isn't common. And second, not every criminal is black or hispanic

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fightin... to Luna Wren 2012/08/27 20:26:33

You are correct. However, if the description of a suspect is "black or Hispanic male, 5'11, 165 lbs, 25-30 years of age" are the police going to stop somebody who DOES NOT fit that description just to avoid being accused of 'racial profilling?' I mean, c'mon, that is just absurd. If most crimes are committed by black or hispanic males, then obviously the percentage of black or hispanic males that get stopped by the cops will be high. If the majority of crimes are committed by white or asian males, then the percentage of white or asian males will be high. You don't see Chinese people flying airplanes into buildings, or blowing themselves up and taking innocent civilians with them. If that was the case then they would be the ones who were getting stopped and harassed by the popo and tsa at the airports. Like I said, if the shoe fits................

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Luna Wren to fightin... 2012/09/29 22:40:05 (edited)

I see what you're saying, but I don't think they mean racial profiling as a part of a description, I think they mean racial profiling as the description. No, you don't see the Chinese flying planes into The World Trade Center, we were told Muslim extremists did it. And even now Muslims are getting crap about being terrorist, even though its only a small portion of Muslims who are extremists and are against America. But that is another conversation, for another time. Who says blacks and Hispanics are the highest percentage of males who commit crimes? Before this goes any further I want to see the national statistic.

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Abu Sae... to fightin... 2013/01/16 11:45:14

But who does the shoe fit ? By the way, what color shoes are you wearing, white ? Commom sense is not credible intelligence to seek out a terrorist, nor is racism.

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fightin... to Abu Sae... 2013/02/05 20:58:24

haha, who is doing the racial profiling now? What difference does it make what color my shoes are? People in this country, of all races, are completely blinded by what they assume is "racial injustice." Instead of perpetuating the race against race lie, people should be more focused on "oppressed and oppressor," neither of which is limited to one particular race, but more by social-economic status. Think about that.

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Abu Sae... to fightin... 2013/01/16 11:47:18

But who does the shoe fit ? By the way, what color shoes are you wearing, white ? Commom sense is not credible intelligence to seek out a terrorist, nor is racism.

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fightin... to Abu Sae... 2013/02/05 21:09:08

Is it right to stop somebody simply because they are black, white, Muslim, or Christian, just to harass them? Absolutely not. Nobody should be judged by their race, color, religion, etc. Can police come to certain conclusions by a way a person dresses, the way they speak, or by their behavior? Yes, although that may not mean they are guilty, if a person of interest is described to be a certain color dressed a certain way, or the details fit, why wouldn't they be stopped? Give me one good reason.

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jathtech 2012/08/21 17:52:27 (edited)

Yes

+1
If done right, racial profiling can be a good tool to help identify people and track certain people. However that does not mean that you should assume anybody of a certain race is a criminal or a terrorist for otherwise. I think you have to take into account not only was the races but also what they're wearing, who's around them, and their behavior. If a group of white supremacists walked in, racial profiling may help identify them. It does not mean that you treat them any differently, it just means that you keep an eye on them. Also if you are looking for a black guy you do not stop white guys in search of that black guy it doesn't make any sense. There are abuses of racial profiling however. There are plenty of cops will assume that your criminal simply because you are black. This is wrong.

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justsomeguy151 2012/08/20 03:17:31

Yes

Yes, i think so. that doesn't mean pull over every African person; or every Arab person or even every white person, BUT its common knowledge that Muslims are usually of Arab descent and more likely to be connected to terrorist activity than say, a white Christian person. Don't like it? That doesn't mean its not true. This is what Israel does and their airlines are now arguably the safest in the world. I say this as someone who has dark skin.

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bigfoot 2012/08/19 23:20:47 (edited)

Yes

My answer is yes only because if applied within reason and correctly,it is a weapon for the safety and protection of the United States.However,once again our incompetent politicians have polluted the system for their personal collection of votes.Country be damned.When does common sense prevail?When does your pride as an American citizen and the safety of your fellow Americans over shadow race and technicalities in the law? In my opinion,when elected Government officials place country first. And demonstrate the proper respect for the offices they and others hold.For example,the disrespect shown toward President Obama by individuals in Congress and elsewhere Trickles Down to the average person of color who resents being singled out and treated with real or percieved disrespect.Each person of color feels an obligation to defend the offensive slights directed at the President by demanding respect for themself.There is a constant level of anger just below the surface of every single person of color in the country and others.Why?Because even though great strides in race relations have occured,there are still too many individuals,who still think their so called white skin entitles them to a special position in society.You see it demonstrated here on Soda Head.How? I, in a previous po...

My answer is yes only because if applied within reason and correctly,it is a weapon for the safety and protection of the United States.However,once again our incompetent politicians have polluted the system for their personal collection of votes.Country be damned.When does common sense prevail?When does your pride as an American citizen and the safety of your fellow Americans over shadow race and technicalities in the law? In my opinion,when elected Government officials place country first. And demonstrate the proper respect for the offices they and others hold.For example,the disrespect shown toward President Obama by individuals in Congress and elsewhere Trickles Down to the average person of color who resents being singled out and treated with real or percieved disrespect.Each person of color feels an obligation to defend the offensive slights directed at the President by demanding respect for themself.There is a constant level of anger just below the surface of every single person of color in the country and others.Why?Because even though great strides in race relations have occured,there are still too many individuals,who still think their so called white skin entitles them to a special position in society.You see it demonstrated here on Soda Head.How? I, in a previous post attempted to explain how a Afro-American now 73 years old felt and reacted to life and events in the Civil Rights period.I was told by a younger white Soda Heads,what I was stating wasn't true.Think about that.This arrogance by some is a sickness in our society.This arrogance,ignorance and stupidity is demonstrated once again in the year 2012,when MEN have the audacity to tell Women what they should or not do with their own bodies.Rigid thinking Conservatives will be unable to make the connection to the post.I am confident intelligent people will.
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Bob DiN 2012/08/19 20:18:28

No

It depends on each individual situation.

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red 2012/08/19 05:37:36 (edited)

Yes

+3
The silly white man! Like we have anything to fear from the always law abiding black man, legal hispanic, and the loyal American STUDENTS of middle eastern backgrounds right off the plane from their family trip to Pakistan.

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us 2012/08/19 04:49:42

No

+1
I'm not sure, I believe it is sad we have to this at the airport.

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Edwin 2012/08/19 01:40:29

No

+1
Successful terrorist groups use children, whites, and elderly couples almost as often as they use men of Middle Eastern descent.

That said, this "Chat-Down" idea is not exactly invasive. If TSA uses casual questions to identify potentially threatening people, they can't ask the same set of questions often -- otherwise it becomes obvious. If the TSA officers are unconsciously using a bias to decide who to "chat" then nobody *should* feel overly threatened.

After all, if the person who looks at your ID asks you whether you enjoyed your stay, if you were visiting friends or family, whether you are traveling alone, etc. -- it isn't really a horrible sort of experience to anyone except those with Social Anxiety (and they should probably take something before even COMING to the airport!).

I think that targeting one group is particularly foolish, but I think the idea of having a 'first line of defense' being the casual chatting is a good idea on the face of it...

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Butch D... to Edwin 2012/08/19 22:32:12

BS and ludicrous! Report fact not foolishness. I have a fried who works for the TSA and a cousin that's a Detective. If little green men are invading, isn't it silly to "interview" a blue man? I'd call that a complete waste of resources...any intelligent person should have the same conclusion.

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Edwin to Butch D... 2012/08/22 05:49:20

All I know is this: shortly after the TSA started profiling Middle Eastern Men a few years ago, the FBI caught a blonde, white female United States citizen who was an active part of a terrorist group here in the U.S. (I think they called her 'Jihad Jane' or something like that).

I believe she had talked to some people about doing a suicide mission on a plane, but at that time they said no. So your waste of resources caught a terrorist... imagine that.

If we go to profiling again, then the terrorist groups will recruit outside of the racial profile... because that will be successful.

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Butch D... to Edwin 2012/10/04 09:12:05

Some terrorism experts pointed to LaRose's (who dropped out of school before attending high school, married at 16, and had multiple suicide attempts) apparent mental instability, arguing she was an anomaly and not representative of a trend towards women jihadists...and has been the ONLY "American" female arrested for terrorism. The fault, like so many other acts of madmen, is the lack of responsibility of the Doctors in the Psychological field in reporting these nut cases. Her appearance was also nothing like, say, Ann Romney but rather adorned the Muslim clothing as dictated by the Islamic cult.
If you have rats, you don't by rat poison in your refrigerator!

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MS PRUD 2012/08/18 19:27:44

Yes

+1
Let’s keep America SAFE. Check them since they are prone for suicide attempts and would take out the whole plane.

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Syl 2012/08/18 16:14:37

No

+1
Good to know caucasians are free to blow up the airport or take drugs with them, since we won't be picked out by the TSA anyway.

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The Reaper to Syl 2012/08/19 07:19:58

Good to know you'll be more surprised than me if a middle easterner tries to hijack a flight we're both on. How many white/black/hispanic muslim Al-Qaeda plane hijackers have you read about lately? Considering we're receiving terrorist threats monthly from this particular country with people of this particular race, I think it's perfectly fine to scan people of this particular decent. When the police are looking for a bank robber thats a white male in a yellow coat, theyre gonna stop and check every white male in a yellow coat. Get the picture?

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Dave 007 2012/08/18 14:21:06

Yes

+2
What would you rather see coming on the plane you are flying - 5o male muslim's or 50 grannies?

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Logical... to Dave 007 2012/08/19 01:36:02

Fifty male Muslims. Less boring stories.

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NoName to Dave 007 2012/08/21 15:56:01
Jack 2012/08/17 22:20:45

Yes

+3
I'd certainly be happier getting on a plane if I knew that the security lads were paying special attention to the muslim passengers.

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Yvette Walker 2012/08/17 14:25:46

No

+1
I am going through it at my job with management.
There should never be that type of issues in the workplace, especially when people have responsibilities!

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Greenbay 2012/08/17 13:32:52

No

+1
Every person is different any race can go nuts.

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