Q: Could I have a case of racial profiling? I was publicly searched and held by police at a store for shoplifting.
I am a black female. I was wearing a hoodie and sweat pants. Seemed like I was being watched as soon as I entered the store. Before leaving the store two officers approached me and told me to hand over my purse in front of the entire store. The officer also lifted my hoodie. After being searched and the officers not finding anything I was told to stand by the police car and was subjected to a second search. I was eventually let go with little to no information on who called or why I was suspected of shoplifting.
A:
In your case, it is certainly possible that you were racially profiled. The fact that you were a black female wearing a hoodie and sweatpants and that you were being watched as soon as you entered the store suggests that your race and clothing may have played a role in the officers' decision to stop and search you.
However, it is also possible that other factors led the officers to stop you, such as suspicious behavior or a report of shoplifting in the store. Without more information, it is difficult to say for sure whether or not you were racially profiled.
If you believe that you were racially profiled, you may have a case against the store and/or the police department.
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