End racial profiling by Des Moines Police
DMPD Chief Dana Wingert and Des Moines City Council
We all know racial profiling happens.
This time it happened to my son.
Today we released to the press dash and body camera footage that shows racial profiling by two Des Moines police officers in a July 15 traffic stop involving my 21-year-old son Jared and his friend Montray.
Watch this video and sign our petition to make racial profiling illegal in Des Moines.
When I watched this video I cried.
The male officer accused Montray of having a stolen car, and accused both of having weapons and marijuana.
Montray was handcuffed and held in the back of the cop car as the officer did what we believe was an illegal search of his car. The male officer then tried to coerce him into admitting to things that were not true before they finally released both young men to go.
To me, it's so easy to see how this unwarranted traffic stop could've easily turned my son into another Philando Castile, or given him an arrest record.
No one should be treated this way.
I’m ready to fight for change – are you with me?
Join me. Add your name to our petition today.
This video, paired with the data and the dozens of stories we’ve collected show a serious problem within the Des Moines Police Department.
We’re working to change that.
This incident comes as we are hosting a series of “Skin Color is Not Reasonable Suspicion” community meetings with the Black community and two Des Moines City Council members. There have been over 100 residents in attendance at each of our first two meetings.
Together, we have a real chance to make a difference in how our communities are treated and policed.
Thank you for standing with me, Montray and my son Jared. It means a lot.
We’ll keep you updated as this organizing moves forward.
For a safer community for everyone,
Laural Clinton,
Iowa CCI member, mother, fighter
Read our full press release here.
Sponsored by
To:
DMPD Chief Dana Wingert and Des Moines City Council
From:
[Your Name]
We the undersigned urge the Des Moines City Council to implement an anti-racial profiling ordinance that:
• Bans racial profiling
• Ends pretextual stops
• Mandates annual data collection and data collection release to the public
• Creates a citizen review board Annual implicit bias and de-escalation training
• Make marijuana possession the lowest level of enforcement
All people — whether black, brown, immigrants, or lifelong Iowans — deserve dignity and respect. All people deserve to live without the fear of being stopped by the police solely because of the color of their skin.
But racial profiling happens far too often, and it has lasting and damaging consequences on our communities.
We’re working to change that here in Des Moines, and create transparent avenues for individuals to hold our public servants accountable.
Stand with us to end police racial profiling in Des Moines!