Racially Profiled For Having A Beard

I was recently on a walk with a couple friends on a public trail in Pueblo, CO. A section of this trail runs along side a water treatment plant. Being the fine 70 degree day in January it was, we brought cameras with us. We stopped at an especially interesting area to take photos and video near the water plant. After a short while I was questioned by a TNT security officer.

While I'm glad that someone is keeping an eye on our water supply, I think TNT needs to educate their employees about racial profiling. I, being a Caucasian man, think the only reason I was questioned was because I had a beard. The women I was with were not questioned at all. And what if I was Middle Eastern or had dark skin?

This incident was quite unsettling because of my knowledge of the current laws governing this sort of thing. While being questioned I pictured myself in an orange jumpsuit. Even though he was just a security guard, I felt defenseless.

The security guard's reasoning for stopping me was that there had been people of Middle Eastern descent taking photos there in the past. I feel that was unacceptable for many reasons.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• racial
• profiling
• racism
• racist
• colorado
• tnt
• security
• ignorance
• muslim
• islam
• arab
• middle
• east

[karaokeregret]

It's not racially profiling if its just because of a beard. Racially = a race, AKA the color of your skin.

[johnny719]

That is some bullshit. That guy was a pile of shit?  There!

[ycp777]

Is that a question or a comment?

[johnny719]

That is some bullshit that guy was a pile of shit?