capitol dome section with flagWritten by Don Byrd

In a letter to a U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and a coalition of 34 other organizations asked for the practice of religious profiling in law enforcement to end.

We appreciate that most law enforcement officials discharge their duties honorably. Yet, when law enforcement profiles individuals and communities based solely on their real or perceived religion, religious appearance, religious observance, or religious practices, it undermines Americans’ trust in those sworn to protect them and our nation’s commitment to religious liberty and equal protection of the law. Furthermore, such actions not only have the effect of discriminating against religion generally and religious minorities in particular, but also fuel divisiveness by casting suspicion over an entire religious community.

The Senate’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights held a hearing yesterday on the issue of religious profiling.