Upholding Civil and Human Rights in the Implementation of National Security Policies

WHEREAS, the terrorist attacks against the United States have led to the passage of policies and implementation of practices that profile people of Middle­ Eastern descent, Muslim background, people of color, and immigrants; and

WHEREAS, these policies not only impacted people of Middle-Eastern and Muslim backgrounds, but also members of the African American community with Muslim sounding names, black immigrants, and anyone who looks like a member of these minority groups; and

WHERAS, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, anti-Middle Eastern, and anti-immigrant sentiments have been consistently on the rise; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP and the African American community are amongst the first communities in America to experience the pain and injustice of discrimination and racial profiling, by law enforcement officials as well as ordinary citizens; and

WHEREAS, the need for working to improve national security by implementing evidence-based practices that have proven effective in finding those intent on breaking the law (rather than profiling based on race, religion, ethnicity, or any other inherent characteristics) must be a priority for the United States; and

WHEREAS, racial profiling, or profiling of any kind based on one's inherent characteristic has been proven ineffective and a waste of precious and limited resources as a tool for law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, it is essential that all communities of color work together to ensure that the civil and human rights of all minorities are protected in the United States.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirm its commitment to the protection and expansion of civil and human rights for all communities of color; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP will continue to work together in coalition with other communities of color, advocacy groups, community leaders, national leaders, law enforcement and government officials to ensure the protection of civil rights, civil liberties and human rights for all in the United States; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP work to pass legislation at local, state, and national levels that effectively bans the practice of racial profiling by law enforcement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP work to enact evidence-based policies and practices to ensure national security rather than those misguided policies which target individuals and communities based on their race, nationality, religion, physical appearance or other inherent characteristics; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP continue its historic work in combating all forms of discrimination of our communities and campaign against the racist, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, anti-Black and anti-Middle Eastern sentiment sweeping the nation, both in society's mind frame, and in policies and laws.