MAKING SENSE OF THE ETHNIC PROFILING DEBATE

Racial Profiling Terrorism

The debate over racial profiling, while appearing to have been settled at the close of the twentieth century, has been very much rekindled. Before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, racial profiling was widely condemned in the United States. Public sentiment was decidedly against the practice, with up to 80% of Americans polled finding it unfair. Remaining consistent with popular sentiment, American politicians supported this view and spoke out against the practice. President Bill Clinton described racial profiling as ―morally indefensible,‖ while Al Gore and George W. Bush both campaigned for the Presidency arguing that racial profiling should be abandoned.