I agree with your point that when one believes they have been targeted due to being a minority, it should always be spoken out against.
However...
Lashing out at the officers in the heat of the moment will almost always do more harm than good. IMHO, it is NEVER a good idea to attack, even verbally, the cop who is confronting you. Being an officer of the law is becoming an increasingly more dangerous occupation. One need only look at the statistics for how often "routine" encounters leave officers injured or killed. Their nerves are already on edge whenever they enter a confrontation, and they are watching for any sign that they, or their colleagues, are in imminent danger. Their training conditions them to respond, and if they feel threatened you will be cuffed, or possibly worse.
Your best bet, then, is to be polite and cooperate with the officers...Even if you don't agree with why they are there and asking. If you feel you must protest you can say so, and be firm about it. Do not be belligerent about it, though. Once the situation is resolved, speak out. Go through "proper channels" by filing a complaint, talk to your lawyer, talk to your government. Write letters and speak to the press if need be.
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2009-07-30 04:02 pm (UTC)However...
Lashing out at the officers in the heat of the moment will almost always do more harm than good. IMHO, it is NEVER a good idea to attack, even verbally, the cop who is confronting you. Being an officer of the law is becoming an increasingly more dangerous occupation. One need only look at the statistics for how often "routine" encounters leave officers injured or killed. Their nerves are already on edge whenever they enter a confrontation, and they are watching for any sign that they, or their colleagues, are in imminent danger. Their training conditions them to respond, and if they feel threatened you will be cuffed, or possibly worse.
Your best bet, then, is to be polite and cooperate with the officers...Even if you don't agree with why they are there and asking. If you feel you must protest you can say so, and be firm about it. Do not be belligerent about it, though. Once the situation is resolved, speak out. Go through "proper channels" by filing a complaint, talk to your lawyer, talk to your government. Write letters and speak to the press if need be.
My opinion, YMMV