Racial profiling is a law enforcement practice that targets minorities for interrogations and searches without evidence of criminal activity and based solely on race. Many believe it ignores the U.S. Constitution, particularly the 4th and 14th Amendments, and causes harm or even death to innocent citizens. Others argue that it is a valid practice by law enforcement. Racial profiling is a pressing social issue because it constitutes a violation of our constitutional rights and disobeys the 4th and 14th amendments. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe term was first used in 1999, when two white police officers in the state of New Jersey stopped a van occupied by four passengers who were African Americans and Latinos. During the interrogation and search of the van, the officers shot three of the four passengers, even though they were unarmed. That same year, “…the New Jersey State Police became the first major law enforcement agency to admit to arresting and detaining a disproportionate number of black men.” Although the use of this phrase began in the late 1990s, history has shown that police officers have always associated certain crimes with certain ethnic groups. “If the Irish immigrant was the thief of the 1880s, then the black man was the rapist of the 1950s, and the Arab is the terrorist of today.” (Witherbee Paragraph 2)There have been many protests against racial profiling. Currently, one of the most important movements is #BlackLivesMatter. The movement was started by three black women, Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors. After learning of Trayvon Martin's murder and that his killer, George Zimmerman, was not held accountable, these women decided to take a stand. Another large public protest occurred in the state of Arizona against Senate Bill 1070. On April 23, 2010, the governor of Arizona signed Senate Bill 1070 into law to prevent illegal immigration from Mexico to Arizona. Under the “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” law enforcement officials can verify the immigration status of a person they have “reasonable suspicion” of being in the United States illegally. The only possible way to enforce this law is to racially profile people. An immigrant found without documentation would be arrested and deported. This law went into effect on July 29, 2010 and was viewed by Arizona citizens as discriminatory and a violation of human rights. There were protests in over 70 US cities, including outside the White House in Washington DC, where Congressman Luis Gutiérrez was arrested. Racial profiling, as defined by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), is: “…when law enforcement and private security targets people of color for humiliation and often appalling detentions, interrogations, and searches without evidence of criminal activity and based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or perceived religion.” Racial profiling is a violation of civil liberties and liberties that the government cannot deny or restrict its citizens without due process. Police officers deny citizens their rights by illegally seizing them without due process. These actions also promote racism and other discriminatory ideas and is degrading to people of color and some religions. The 4th Amendment protects us from searches?