Take Action Today!

Support Continuing Efforts to Fight Racial Profiling in Illinois!

February 24, 2005

Your call is needed! House Bill 1019, a measure that extends the collection and analysis of stops by police to include stops of pedestrians on sidewalks, is an important "next step" in fighting racial profiling in the State of Illinois. It builds on the data collection and analysis of traffic stops adopted in 2003. House Bill 1019 will be heard in the House Judiciary II - Criminal Law Committee on Friday, February 25th. We need your call.

Today or tomorrow, please call your state representative at the number listed below and tell him/her to vote "YES" on House Bill 1019.

House Bill 1019 reflects the "best practice" in contemporary law enforcement. Police officers commonly detain pedestrians on sidewalks and other public places, deprive them of their freedom of movement, conduct a pat-down frisk of most of their body, and interrogate them about possible criminal wrongdoing. The United States Supreme Court has described these nonconsensual detentions and frisks as "annoying, frightening, and perhaps humiliating." Unfortunately, some police officers practice racial profiling in deciding which civilians to subject to these investigative detentions and frisks. Collecting and analyzing data about police stops is a critical step to preventing and detecting racial profiling. You can learn more about this legislation at http://www.aclu-il.org/legislative/alerts/hb1019.pdf.

Please call your state representative today and support this next step in fighting racial profiling in our state!

If possible, please email ACLU Legislative Director Mary Dixon at mdixon3@attglobal.net to let her know you were able to contact your representative. Her ability to lobby is greatly enhanced by knowing that legislators are hearing from their constituents.

Illinois House Judiciary II - Criminal Law - Committee

Robert Molaro - 21st District - (217) 782-5280

Patricia Bailey - 6th District - (217) 782-5971

John E. Bradley - 117th District - (217) 782-1051

Annazette Collins - 10th District - (217) 782-8077

Shane Cultra - 105th District - (217) 558-1039

William Delgado - 3rd District - (217) 782-0480

Careen M. Gordon - 75th District - (217) 782-5997

Constance A. Howard - 34th District - (217) 782-6476

Lovana Jones - 26th District - (217) 782-2023

Patricia Reid Lindner - 50th District - (217) 782-1486

Frank J. Mautino - 76th District - (217) 782-0140

John J. Millner - 55th District - (217) 558-1037

David Reis - 108th District - (217) 782-2087

Jim Sacia - 89th District - (217) 782-8186

Ron Stephens - 102nd District - (217) 782-6401

Ronald A. Wait - 69th District - (217) 782-0548