Racial Profiling & Physical Police Abuse Dominican High School Students & Families in Paterson NJ-USA

Racial Profiling & Physical Police Abuse Dominican High School Students & Families in Paterson NJ-USA Posted 3/2/2009 12:14 PM EST

Racial Profiling & Physical Police Abuse Dominican High School Students & Families in Paterson NJ-USA
Posted 3/2/2009 12:14 PM EST

Several years ago I took a particularly strong interest in helping some Dominican high school students in Paterson New Jersey wanting to better the life of themselves and their families. In particular, I assisted a high school student (a senior) known as “Z” by giving him my old Ford Taurus, desktop computer and hired him to alphabetize my books here in Bloomingdale NJ for ten dollars an hour. It is ironic not many local high school kids wanted the job I offered working my books. I tried hiring a few local students and they left my books in shambles on my living room floor leaving in the middle of alphabetizing to get high, not completing the job. Z did an excellent job working here eight hours at times until the job was complete and done right.

“Z” told me his dreams of desperately wanting to get out of the viscous circle of drugs, gangs and ghettos. He also wanted someone to help him start a bank account and understand the college application process at Passaic County Community College in Paterson NJ. So I helped him start an account at Commerce Bank in Pompton Lakes, NJ, obtain a debit card and explained the college application process.

One evening I went to Paterson NJ to speak with Z about fixing his computer and to drop off some spare computer parts he needed around Madison & 17th Streets. It was about 9pm, the evening of Dominican Pride / Parade day and I parked outside his residence sitting in my car waiting for him to appear.

There were many Spanish and local Dominican families standing around 17th lining the streets from previously enjoying the Dominican parade festivities. I saw father’s holding their young children in their arms and many teens just hanging about. Mind you I am a single white woman alone in my car as always when traveling to Paterson.

Before Z came to meet me, the small block became suddenly flooded with about six Paterson NJ police vans, motorcycle cops and police cars. Many of the police officers were masked like Navy Seals, wearing what looked like bullet proof vests with initials on them holding clubs and at least semi-automatic weapons. They forcefully jumped from out their vans genuinely resembling the S.W.A.T. television series.

They began clubbing father’s whom were merely holding their children peacefully in their arms, shoving them around while cursing and shouting derogatory ethnic slang at them. Sitting in my car stunned, Z suddenly appeared; he opened my door getting in. I asked him how these police could be physically abusing these peaceful Spanish families just enjoying the evening not causing trouble and he told me this abuse often occurred and he and others living there didn’t understand what to do. Was this illegal he asked me (?)

I answered....YES, and explained him American law on the topic and he thanked me for explaining this to him so he now knows his civil rights in America.