A Boston-based civil rights group is looking for an unbiased investigation into “racial profiling” on the Boston Marathon after a predominantly Black working group was blocked by cops at their cheering spot in Newton.
On Monday, cops with bicycles lined up at Pioneers Run Crew’s tent alongside Heartbreak Hill at Mile 21. This restricted the group’s cheering entry to the street and their skill to present out excessive fives to runners. Police officers additionally took positions behind the group’s tent.
The cops did this after the Boston Athletic Association had alerted Newton Police 3 times about spectators crossing the rope barrier and impeding runners. Pioneers Run Crew and different working teams have famous that hundreds of spectators soar onto the course, however this sort of police presence solely occurred to a gaggle of predominantly Black and Brown spectators.
In the wake of this, Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston on Wednesday wrote a letter to the City of Newton and Newton Police about “racial profiling at the Boston Marathon.” The civil rights group is looking for an unbiased investigation of police surveillance and regulation enforcement techniques on the marathon.
“A group of predominantly Black observers near Mile 21 were targeted for police mistreatment based on their race and identity,” the civil rights group wrote to Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and Police Chief John Carmichael.
“We are also requesting an emergency meeting to discuss serious racial discrimination concerns and to urge immediate action, including an independent investigation of law enforcement activities during the Boston Marathon,” the group added within the letter.
The group famous that it has gotten requests for authorized help from each marathon spectators and runners, who reported that cops focused and singled out Black individuals for surveillance and aggressive therapy through the race.
Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston additionally urged Newton’s leaders to “review the Newton Police Department’s policies and procedures to root out racial profiling.”
“Issue a public apology to marathon runners and spectators for the improper policing of Black people in Newton,” the group additionally wrote within the letter.
On Tuesday, a Newton Police spokesperson mentioned in an announcement concerning the incident: “After being notified by the B.A.A. three times about spectators traversing the rope barrier and impeding runners, the Newton Police Department responded respectfully and repeatedly requesting that spectators stay behind the rope and not encroach onto the course.”
The police spokesperson added, “When spectators continued to cross the rope, NPD with additional officers calmly used bicycles for a short period to demarcate the course and keep both the runners and spectators safe.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”