The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky today launched a public education campaign to educate the community about racial profiling in response to the city of Louisville’s plan to enforce anti-cruising ordinances during Derby weekend.

“The ACLU of Kentucky takes no official position on the issue of cruising,” said Program Associate Maria Ramirez.  “Instead, we are interested in making sure that everyone is treated fairly under the law.”

Because Metro Louisville Police officers will be enforcing ordinances on Derby weekend that are not ordinarily enforced, community advocates have expressed concern about the potential for racial profiling.

“We want to be sure that people know their rights when dealing with law enforcement officials on Derby weekend and throughout the rest of the year,” Ramirez said.

Team leaders and volunteers were trained last week and today to distribute packets that include information about racial profiling, how to document incidents of racial profiling, and what to do if you’re stopped by police.

The campaign is designed to raise awareness about the potential for racial profiling, which is not limited to Derby weekend events, but rather is a nationwide problem on America’s streets, highways, and airports.

Several hundred racial profiling packets will be given to residents and businesses along the portions of Broadway that will be closed Derby weekend, as well as along the section of Baxter Avenue and Bardstown Road between Payne Street and Eastern Parkway where cruising is common.

Packets also will be available in Louisville at the offices of the NAACP, the Louisville Urban League, the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and the Justice Resource Center.

Coalition partners plan to make the Racial Profiling information available on an on-going basis.