VOP’s Statewide Racial Profiling Campaign had a busy summer. The Strategy Committee usually works by conference call, but members felt a strong need for a face-to-face meeting, and that took place at the VOP office on June 17.

At that meeting, Committee members decided to focus on three areas:

• Legislative and policy work
• Community mobilization
• Working with law enforcement

Legislative and policy work

This includes meeting with both legislators and executive branch officials. The meeting with Senator Stolle was a key first step. As other meetings, possibly including a meeting with the Governor, develop, the Strategy Committee and VOP staff will be calling on VOP members for support.

Community mobilization

The Strategy Committee wants to maximize involvement of community people in legislative and law enforcement meetings. It is especially important that people who can talk about profiling from their own experience be in these meetings. VOP chapters, NAACP Branches and other organizations will be urged to take a leadership role. The Campaign will be making a presentation at the NAACP State Convention October 19-22 in Hampton.

Other ways VOP members and allies can get involved are in reaching out to:

• Congregations and ministerial groups
• Civic organizations, especially those dealing with race issues
• Youth groups, especially college
• Latino organizations and other people of color organizations
• Events, especially Martin Luther King Day celebrations
• Human rights organizations

The Strategy Committee is also seeking people who are interested in surveying attitudes in communities of color related to racial profiling, including attitude towards complaints, or in modeling how to make complaints about racial profiling.

Working with law enforcement

VOP made an effort to have a presence at the state meetings of the Virginia Association of Police Chiefs and Virginia Sheriffs Association. This was not successful, but Strategy Committee members are continuing to have a dialogue with these organizations and their leaders. VOP is actively trying to develop solutions on racial profiling that work for Virginia law enforcement officials, but also deal with the real concerns of communities of color.

“Events are moving rapidly,” said VOP Chairperson Jay Johnson. “The opportunity to discuss this issue at the NAACP State Convention is much appreciated, and will add important energy and experience to our efforts. Senator Stolle’s position is also one we are taking seriously. One way or another, statewide and in some local communities, VOP will continue to raise this issue.”

If you are interested in working on this issue, either locally or at the state level, please contact the VOP Statewide Racial Profiling Campaign Coordinator, Larry Yates, at llyates@shentel.net.