Occupiers from Black Lives Matter and the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) descended upon California’s capitol Wednesday by the hundreds, demanding state legislators pass a new bill on racial profiling, and calling on Governor Jerry Brown to sign it.
Senate Floor Analysis notes that the bill, AB 952, would require peace officers conducting “stops” to begin reporting the “perceived race or ethnicity, gender, and approximate age of the person stopped.”
Analysis also states that the bill expands a ban on “racial profiling” to include “racial or identity profiling.” Identity includes “race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability.”
Chants from the crowd shown in video posted to social media included, “This is what democracy looks like,” “Justice, If we don’t get it, shut it down,” “Fight back,” and “Black lives matter,”
Another video showed back-and-forth chanting outside Gov. Brown’s office: “This is what a Pharoah looks like.”
ACLU of California Center for Advocacy and Policy Director Natasha Minsker tweeted an image along with the words, “Hundreds in Sac calling for legislature to act on biased policing #ab953 supported by 67% of CA voters #FairPolicing.”
A post from an AFL-CIO union local read, “Protestors occupying the Capitol to highlight the need for #AB953 to end identity profiling in CA #RaiseUpAB953,” and included a photo attached to the tweet.
According to a tweet from PICO California, over 21,500 petitions were delivered to Speaker Toni Atkins, who also supports the bill.
CAIR Sacramento Valley Chapter Executive Director Basim Elkarra spoke at Wednesday’s rally.
Breitbart News’ Jordan Schachtel previously reported: “While CAIR profiles itself as a civil rights organization, the [group] has all too often revealed itself as one that has embraced radical Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood.”
If the bill passes an upcoming anticipated Senate floor vote, it will proceed to Gov. Brown’s desk for final signature approval.
Follow Michelle Moons on Twitter @MichelleDiana