St. Tammany Sheriff Rapped For Racist Comments
August 2nd, 2006The rising crime in post-Katrina Louisiana is raising tensions and leading some in law enforcement to begin to lose it to the point of resorting to racism. Some have called this “Katrina fatigue.”
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the residents of St. Tammany Parish deserve an apology from Sheriff Jack Strain for his deplorable remarks equating Hurricane Katrina evacuees and public housing residents with “thugs” and “trash” and suggesting that his deputies will harass people who wear dreadlocks or “chee-wee” hairstyles.
“Not only were his comments manifestly racist and divisive, but he appears to be either unaware or unconcerned that racial profiling is a blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution. As the parish’s top law enforcement official, he should know better,” SPLC President Richard Cohen said in a statement.
“In America today, no one should fear harassment by the local sheriff because of the color of their skin or their fashion choice. We fought and won that struggle decades ago - and no sheriff can decree a return to the law of Jim Crow. The Southern Poverty Law Center provides anti-bias materials to thousands of educators in Louisiana and across the country. When an authority figure like Sheriff Strain publicly voices this kind of bigotry, it sets back efforts to teach tolerance to our children.”
Story links to the controversy:
Sheriff’s Threats Set Off Profiling Alarms
Sheriff Jack Strain is Sticking To His Guns
