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What to do if you are stopped by the police |
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The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health in Vanier, Ottawa, has found a creative way to address the problem of racial profiling. In late February of 2006, the center began producing and distributing wallet-sized cards to educate First Nations peoples about their rights with respect to police treatment. Due to high demand, all 600 of the original cards had been distributed in less than two weeks. "It amazed me how much stir this caused," said Dan Printup, the case manager for the center’s Homelessness Program, said in a recent phone interview. "[Television stations], universities, liberty groups, everyone’s been contacting us. These cards are spreading across Canada like wildfire," Printup said. Printup also told Cultural Survival that the cards seem to be working, with First Nations people producing the card upon being stopped by the police and asking to know why they were being stopped. "There weren’t ever legitimate reasons," Printup said, "and the police let them let go without further questioning." An excerpt from the Wabano Centre’s card reads:
Changing Winds would like to add that people who are being routinely harassed by the police have reported to me that they keep a video camera in the car at all times. When approached by a police officer, asking the above questions while having the camera aimed at the officer will often cause them to walk away. Also, it is critical to know that if you are detained for questioning and you are not under arrest, you do not have to answer. This is true whether you are being interviewed by the police or the FBI. |
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Changing
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