A high-ranking California lawmaker who claimed he was racially profiled during a traffic stop had his account torn apart by the authorities who insist he was pulled over for a violation outside of a school.
Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president of the Los Angeles City Council, accused Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers of targeting him because he is black during a meeting last week about pretextual traffic stops.
Describing the run-in, Harris-Dawson alleged officers stopped him without cause and questioned how he owned the vehicle and what he did for a living.
‘It was traumatic on Wednesday as when I was 16,’ the lawmaker shared, becoming visibly emotional.
But officials said the story isn’t so simple, revealing the stop was made by the Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) – not the LAPD – and was over a traffic violation in a school zone, a spokesperson told The New York Post.
‘During our morning school drop-off, a Los Angeles School Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop based on an observed moving traffic violation in the vicinity of one of our high schools and issued the driver a citation,’ the spokesperson said.
The allegations came as the Los Angeles City Council discussed pretextual traffic stops, when officers pull drivers over for minor violations as a way to investigate other suspected crimes.
Though legal under federal law, the tactic is frequently criticized as a tool for racially profiling unsuspecting drivers.
Marqueece Harris-Dawson (pictured), president of the Los Angeles City Council, alleged he was racially profiled by LAPD officers during a traffic stop last week
Officials told the New York Post that the stop was made by the Los Angeles School Police Department – not the LAPD – and was over a traffic violation in a school zone (stock image)
During his testimony, Harris-Dawson said such stops are often based solely on race and are ‘traumatic’ for those who experience them, including himself as a black man.
‘In Los Angeles, every single time data is collected on pretextual traffic stops, they are grossly racially biased,’ he declared.
He backed up the claim by adding that roughly 85 percent of the stops conducted by law enforcement in the city involve ‘black and brown’ drivers.
The lawmaker told the council about his recent traffic stop in seemingly vivid detail.
‘The first question was, “roll down your windows”. The second question was, “how do you have this vehicle?”‘ Harris-Dawson said.
‘The third question was, “well, you work for the city. What job do you do for the city?”‘ he added.
His response, he said: ‘In fact, I’m the president of the council.’
‘I had to explain this on the corner of Main and 25th Street, while I was trying to get to the committee just two days ago,’ he told the council.
Harris-Dawson (pictured) said officers stopped him without cause and questioned how he owned the vehicle and what he did for a living
The allegations came as the Los Angeles City Council discussed pretextual traffic stops – legal under federal law but often seen as a tactic to racially target drivers
Harris-Dawson then paused emotionally during his testimony, comparing the fears he experienced as a teenager to those he feels today when dealing with police.
Yet even after the LAPD offered their version of events, the lawmaker doubled down on social media, sharing further details of his ‘traumatic’ experience with followers.
In a Facebook post accompanied by a video of his testimony, Harris-Dawson wrote: ‘As a Member of the Council, driving in a government-issued vehicle with an E-plate, I have been stopped four times. Four times.’
His post drew more than 200 comments, with many questioning the discrepancies in his account, including the fact that he did not mention being issued a citation during his most recent encounter.
‘I agree if you didn’t do anything wrong and you get pulled over but traumatic? Answer the questions, go to council, talk to police chief, simple,’ one comment read.
Another said: ‘Roll down your windows isn’t a question.’
‘You forgot to tell us why you were pulled over in the first place,’ wrote a third.
‘Why did they pull you over, what was your infraction? I think you forgot to say that part,’ one user added.
An LAPD spokesperson told the NYP that Harris-Dawson was pulled over for a traffic violation in the vicinity of one of the high schools and issued a citation
In his testimony, Harris-Dawson (pictured) claimed that roughly 85 percent of the stops conducted by law enforcement in the city involve ‘black and brown’ drivers
Still, plenty of comments backed Harris-Dawson, with some users sharing their own stories of run-ins with law enforcement.
‘I ALWAYS get randomly stopped in almost every state. I also ALWAYS get patted down, singled out at the airports. I am a brown 100 percent Native American,’ one user wrote.
Another shared: ‘Yes. It can be traumatic. I too in North Carolina was pulled over several times in a state vehicle. Without any violations or probable cause.’
‘There needs to be more intense background check and training. When hiring for law enforcement, that’s crazy,’ a user added.
The Daily Mail has contacted Harris-Dawson and the LAPD for comment.
