I was racially profiled at Disney Springs. What to do if it happens to you.

[DietCoke18]

Me and my husband are white and we were pulled at airport security for random inspections. My 11 year old was pulled for a random inspection I was pissed and fought with the agent. She said it’s random and the machine tells her what to do. All it was was a hand swipe not invasive at all. It still bothered me but I didn’t take it further. It happens.

 

[pahoben]

I would never make eye contact in this situation. If you do make eye contact in a large crowd it seems to me that you are at higher probability of being stopped. I have seen stressed out police react strongly to just simple eye contact. I think it may be an innate biological response in some situations.

 

[Nancyg56]

To those wasting time poking holes in my story, my post wasn't for you. My post wasn’t an attempt to convince people I was racially profiled nor convince them it even exists. I’m wasn't seeking validation from anyone nor do I need it. I was there, you weren't.

My post was intended for and to help people who felt they were legitimately profiled based on their race on Disney property and what actionable steps are available to them. Things I wish I knew before. Racial profiling is a pattern, if people don’t stand up to it and hold those accountable by reporting it, then they’ll keep doing it to others. I doubt a guard would be fired for 1 or 2 complaints, nor should they, but a dozen complaints would show a pattern. If you want something to be done, you have to file a claim with Disney:

1. Ask the officer why you were stopped. CALMLY request the officer’s name, badge number and department. Don’t assume they are Disney security. If they’re not wearing a blue shirt, they’re probably not.
2. Note the time and location. See if there are any visible cameras. Write down what he said while your memory is fresh.
3. File a claim with Disney.
4. You will be assigned a case number and receive a call the next business day.
5. You will be asked to give a recorded statement.
6. They will initiate an investigation and they WILL respond with the results of that investigation.

Just commenting on Disney’s main complaint or comment line won’t produce results most of the time, they get swamped with thousands each month. A very helpful Disney Castmember advised me of that. I was asked if I would accept compensation. I said absolutely not, I’m not looking for money nor would I accept any if offered. This wasn’t Disney’s fault. This was an officer from a local department or private security company, not Disney security. Disney can control which officers patrol their property and/or speak to that officer’s commanding officer about his conduct. A word of warning to those looking to take advantage and cash in by filing a false claim, Disney has cameras everywhere, they’ll figure it out quick. In my case, I'm counting on those cameras.

For those who questioned my motivation…

—NO, when I am pulled and patted down at the airport, I don’t think I’m being profiled.
—NO, I don’t believe people of color should be exempt from random inspections, nor do I think they should be singled out and stopped based solely on the color of their skin.
—NO, when I’ve been pulled over for a traffic infraction, I don’t assume I was profiled. I give the officer the benefit of the doubt.
—NO, I don’t believe all police are racists. I don't hate the police.
—NO, when I’m asked to walk through a metal detector after my backpack is inspected at Animal Kingdom, something done randomly to some guests, I don’t think I’m being profiled.
—NO, the officer did not offer an explanation why he stopped me. He asked me if I was carrying a gun. When I said no, he walked away with his dog.
—NO, I am not looking for compensation as I said in my recorded statement to the Disney investigator.
—NO, I was not wearing loud or conspicuous clothing. There was no bulge under my shirt. I was wearing tan shorts and a solid colored shirt. I don’t have dreadlocks or facial hair. I have short, salt and pepper hair. I don't walk with a cane or limp.

—YES, I was racially profiled. That officer immediately eyeballed me from 350 ft away before I got to the bottom of the stairs and his K9 wasn’t looking in my direction. He then made a beeline to me through a crowd of 75-100 non-minorities to stop and question me if I was carrying a gun, that is called racial profiling. He offered no explanation why he stopped me.

When someone locks eyes on you and stares you down, even at a distance, you know it. I’m no expert on police K9s, but I would assume if a dog detected something suspicious, they would look in your direction. The officer did not say I had a bulge under my shirt nor offer any explanation why he stopped me, he only asked if I was carrying gun. If the K9 was the probable cause to stop me and detected something on me, wouldn't the officer be obligated to search me or my backpack when I offered it to him? So I doubt the K9 detected anything. He just saw a minority and decided to go after me to stop me. I've lived with this my whole life, it's nothing new. But it's never happened to me on Disney property until now.

I go to Disney Springs frequently with my family. After all the mass shootings, I wish there was MORE uniformed security personnel. But that’s not a license to condone blatant racial profiling.

Despite stating that this post was meant to help others facing similar situations, I’m sure some will be compelled to express their opposite opinions to my post, Well, I only ask that they answer 2 questions and post their answers at the beginning of they’re comments.

1. Do you believe racial profiling exists?
2. If YES, but you don’t believe I was racially profiled in my case, then describe a scenario where you'd say, "Yep, that guy was definitely profiled." If you can’t, then your answer to question 1 should have been NO.

Some have suggested that in light of recent events, stopping me was justified. Let’s face it, if the officer’s motivation for stopping me that night was the recent mass shooting events, what would the shooter profile be? A lone white male in his 20’s or a middle-aged, married minority couple? Just saying.

I believe racial profiling exists, and I think that you have a valid reason for believing this happened to you. I have no idea if that was the reality, but it was your reality, and that is enough for me.

In terms of the dog, I see them mostly at DHS and DAK> I hate DS so I have little experience there. My nieces are law enforcement, and as a Game Warden one has a K9 trained in black powder. Her dog will sometimes react to a persona nd she will then move closer. I have never asked her what her response is but I know that she will tailor it to individual situations. I have had the pleasure of watching the dog work and his nose is pretty darn sensitive. He moved on a small item from a long distance away.

My other niece is a State Trooper, Detective sergeant I think. She is an itty bitty thing, but let me tell you, on this WDW trip in December she got stopped more times than the rest of us put together. She went along with the additional security checks while the rest of us waited, and I will add we were kind of amused. Deb cannot shut it off no matter where she is and I bet you a buck she made eye contact with just about anyone she encountered. My 30 something 5 foot nothing white niece was not racially profiled, but boy was she stopped.

I am going to say that in a perfect world racially profiling is wrong, however we do not live in that world. In light of the recent massacres, as well as the target that DS seems to be, if something or someone in some way signals that he or she could stand a closer look, I am not going to complain. Deb was probably not amused at all of her stops and chats, you see it happens every time she flies as well. I am sorry that this is an occurrence that is more sensitive for you, and I really hope that we reach a point when no one ever has to question if there was am underlying reason to be stopped or followed.

Is it possible he thought you might have a weapon based on how your clothes were draped, or that you filled a description of someone that were BOLO'ing and he just wanted to get his K9 close enough to you to be able to scent something?

Hopefully they will get a response to you quickly. Sorry you went through all that.

I think that is what Jenna does when her dog reacts. She moves in a bit closer.

My son in law, of Hispanic origin, was always pulled aside every time they go to Disney ( before metal detectors installed)
He is a police officer and for some reason they eyeball him, he just complies lets them pat him down and he's on his merry way.

This is what I described happening to Deb. It happens all of the time.

 

[DopeyDame]

"He asked if I was carrying a gun, I said no. A small crowd noticed what was going on and someone took a picture. I was carrying a small backpack and offered it for inspection, but he said it wasn't necessary and walked away. "

This strikes me as odd. He went all the way over to ask if you were armed, presumably he had some reason to ask or saw something out of the ordinary and just took your word that you weren't carrying a gun? If a police officer is going to stick his neck out and investigate something of this nature, I feel like he'd go all the way or do nothing at all. Not walk up and ask if you have a gun, you say no, then he walks away. Doesn't seem to add up.

Not once he saw people filming him and realized he was about to get in all sorts of deep doo-doo since he didn't actually have any reason to be harassing a guest.



OP, I'm so sorry you experienced this, and also sorry that so many people want to dismiss your experiences.
- middle aged white lady who recognizes how fortunate I am to blissfully wander around the country without ever having been asked if I was carrying a weapon, and without ever worrying if I have my ID with me or not, and who drove for months with a taillight out with nary a concern in the world about it.

 

[DopeyDame]

I think before we jump to racial profiling, we need more information. There is NO WAY I as a police officer would walk up to someone and ask them if they're armed without having some sort of information that they were armed or acting suspiciously. If I did ask, I wouldn't take that person's word that they didnt have a weapon and just let them walk away. If I had enough suspicion to ask the question then I would have enough to pat them down (browse Terry vs. Ohio on that). Any officer worth their weight in gold would thoroughly explain what they are doing and why they are doing it. "Sir, I noticed a bulge near your waistband...my dog alerted to you...ect. It may be nothing but in order to keep Disney safe i need to do a quick check as there have been issues with weapons being brought to this property in the past." If nothing is found..."sorry for holding you up. Have a good day. " Going the extra mile to explain why you are taking the action you are usually defuses most problems. But you can't please everyone and officers can't be afraid to do their jobs just because the person happens to be a minority. I find that most officers are more and more hesitant to take action against minorities out of fear of a complaint. Disney Springs has to be on high alert because it is open without a normal checkpoint. If people continue to complain, maybe it will just come down to just checking everyone.

Right. Exactly. If you as an officer actually had a reasonable suspicion that someone had a weapon, you would take appropriate action. But if you decided you just didn't like the way some dude looked, and then realized people were watching you, then perhaps you would just walk away... like this officer did.

You should like a great, respectful officer who tries to keep everyone safe and keep situations calm. Unfortunately, we know not all officers are like you, and it's incumbent upon all of us (and ESPECIALLY other law enforcement!) to make sure those officers are identified and either retrained or reassigned or sent on their way to a new career.

 

[DopeyDame]

.

 

[NotUrsula]

While I think it *is* possible that the OP was profiled (because face it, it happens), I think that, as described, it is more likely in this particular instance that the OP resembled someone described in a BOLO, *or* that the officer initially thought he was carrying, but after following the OP more closely, the officer came to the conclusion that he probably was not a person of interest. I suspect that it is entirely possible that the officer's intention at the end was just to walk on by, but that the OP's having tripped over the dog made that impossible. If the officer had come to the conclusion that there were no weapons hidden under clothing, then offering the backpack for a search further supported that conclusion, and the officer chose to minimize the encounter.

However, I *do* support the way that the OP has handled this; when in doubt, it makes sense to calmly file a claim so that Disney can properly investigate and be sure that there was no prejudicial intent. Every adult black man I know has stories to tell of tense encounters with law enforcement at one point or another in his life; having that history tends to make you a bit more leery than a person without it would be, I think.

Off-duty LEO's being stopped and checked for weapons really isn't that surprising, even if it is ironic. Officers (and soldiers) who normally wear uniform and weapon at work tend to adjust their posture to compensate for the weight of their equipment, and many just walk/stand that way all the time after a while. They also sometimes have a tendency to be hyper-vigilant in crowds, and that also shows in their posture. Both of those factors are used in behavioral profiling.

 

[clutter]

OP, I'm so sorry you experienced this, and also sorry that so many people want to dismiss your experiences.
- middle aged white lady who recognizes how fortunate I am to blissfully wander around the country without ever having been asked if I was carrying a weapon, and without ever worrying if I have my ID with me or not, and who drove for months with a taillight out with nary a concern in the world about it.

I'm one of those extra lucky middle-aged white women as well. And very fortunate to not experience what some of my friends have experienced. Doesn't keep me from slowing down when I see a police car on the road, though.

I wanted to point out that being pulled out of a checkpoint for additional security - whether randomly or for cause - is not the same thing that OP experienced. At a checkpoint, everyone knows that they could be subject to additional screening, both through a random algorithm and through possible judgement calls. Walking around Disney Springs and having a K9 officer seek you out to stop you means that the officer has decided that, out of the hundreds of people he let past, you are suspicious enough to warrant further review. That's not random, that's an officer making a judgement call. That's like a security officer following you around your local Target, keeping an eye on you. Or having a police officer patrolling a beach, and walking up to your blanket to question you.

Ultimately, I would think that the OP will only hear back that they have identified the officer, reviewed the situation, and have handled it in a way they feel is appropriate. And that is really all that you can ask - to be heard.

 

[Wendy31]

I have no doubt Disney racially profiles people. I have a friend who lives locally who looks “middle eastern”. He is pulled aside for extra security every single time, everywhere he goes, including WDW. He has a much better attitude about it than I would have. I commend his patience in the face of constant hate, racism and mistrust.

I’m sitting her trying to imagine how I would react if a security officer came up to me and asked me if I had a gun. I’m not sure if I would be completely incredulous or if I would burst out laughing. Then again, security officers don’t ask white women in their 50’s if they’re packing.

Not once he saw people filming him and realized he was about to get in all sorts of deep doo-doo since he didn't actually have any reason to be harassing a guest.

OP, I'm so sorry you experienced this, and also sorry that so many people want to dismiss your experiences.
- middle aged white lady who recognizes how fortunate I am to blissfully wander around the country without ever having been asked if I was carrying a weapon, and without ever worrying if I have my ID with me or not, and who drove for months with a taillight out with nary a concern in the world about it.

I do believe that racial profiling exists in this country as well as "class" profiling - the white man or woman who looks "lower class" or unkempt/sloppy or the "drugged/high/meth-head" look.

I'm at a white, middle-class woman in my mid-40s & drive a mini-van. I often joke that I could fly under anyone's radar. I once, unknowingly, drove all over the place w/ my tags expired for over half a year. No one's profiling me. (And I actually do have a concealed carry permit, but I'm never carrying.)

(Edited to add - And I do recognize that privilege & also understand that not everyone benefits from that kind of privilege, & many others have much different experiences.)

I do believe the OP thinks he was racially profiled, & maybe he was. And, OP, I'm sorry that happened to you.

But what I don't get about the OP's post is WHY would he would be racially profiled.

In my opinion, even as a person of color, he doesn't "fit" anything that would be on anyone's radar - race, class, looks, or otherwise. But maybe I'm naive.

I know officers & security personnel are trained to look for certain "tells," & I probably wouldn't be a very good security person because I'd be letting all the middle-aged & older & normal, average looking people go right on by.

And, honestly, if you're looking for a possible shooter, it's a pretty good guess it's NOT going to be the older black man. Of the possible profiles, he'd be way down on my list.

So, again, I can't figure out why he would have been stopped.

 

[DopeyDame]

So sorry about your disappointment thus far but there still is hope. If there is an entertainment area where you live maybe you could drive around there with your tail light out at the time the bars close and with no ID. Have you tried that?

If successful then be sure to be disrespectful and uncooperative during the stop to get the full treatment. If it becomes too intense tell them that you expected your privilege to be respected.

I mean, I suppose there are all sorts of ways to spice things up a little if I really want to. I did get a little snippy with a TSA agent in Orlando a few weeks ago, but still got to my gate in time...

 

[pahoben]

I mean, I suppose there are all sorts of ways to spice things up a little if I really want to. I did get a little snippy with a TSA agent in Orlando a few weeks ago, but still got to my gate in time...

LOL. That was bold and I know you will come up with something.

 

[maxiesmom]

Odd yes, but I find it a huge jump to get to being racially profiled.

 

[MrsPete]

I'm a college educated, 58 year old minority. I'm a grandfather. I wear shorts and solid button down shirts, nothing loud or outlandish. I don't have dreadlocks, I have short salt and pepper hair.

I don't know whether the officer's actions were racially motivated or not.

You and my husband sound VERY similar in age /neat appearance -- except that he's white, and here's a story that happened to us:
- We dropped our oldest child off at the airport /saw her enter Security and waved her goodbye.
- As we were exiting, two officers and a K9 dog approached us.
- One officer commented on the football jersey (repping our local team, who were playing later that day) my husband was wearing, and the officer kinda "clapped him on the shoulder" as if examining /admiring the garment. He then held his hand down for the dog to smell.
- At the same time, the other officer asked my husband if he was carrying any illegal drugs.

It was insulting, and it sounds much like your experience (I don't see a lot of difference between being asked if you're carrying a gun vs. carrying drugs.) I think the officers sometimes see something suspicious in a person's face /walk /whatever, and they approach that person. It may or may not have had anything to do with race.

Whether it was or wasn't racial profiling, your list of suggestions on how to handle such situations sound quite reasonable.

 

[J-Dog]

This. I don't know why so many people are rushing to invalidate the OP's experience. Racial profiling is a huge problem in this country. Disney Springs is part of this country. I have zero trouble believing that this happened. (And even if I did have trouble believing it? My opinion would not hold more water than the guy who actually experienced it.)

I'm sorry this happened, OP. I hope there's a satisfactory resolution for you.

One could also ask "I wonder why so many people are rushing to call this police officer a racist?"

 

[TavieP]

One could also ask "I wonder why so many people are rushing to call this police officer a racist?"

Because we read the news?

 

[Floridaman999]

Maybe it wasn't the human officer that was racist but his K9 partner is? Seems it was the K9 that started this. Send the dog back to training!

 

[disykat]

I have nothing against the OP and certainly believe there is a possibility he was being profiled but I also believe there's a possibility it had nothing to do with his race. Sounds like the dog flagged him and they had to get closer to check him out.

 

[Magical2017]

I have had a few experiences where I wondered if I was being paranoid or not. One recent example is in a store where we used to stop on our way to visit DHs parents, which is an a rural area a few hours from our home. We are a mixed race couple and I am mixed race. Every time I enter the store I am followed the entire time. DH is never followed (he is Caucasian). I noticed it many times, whether the store is crowded or not. An employee immediately asks if I need help (which is what I would expect them to do) and then trails me (which I would not expect). If I go to the restroom, an employee is waiting nearby and then trails me around the store until I leave. I do not think it is the same employee, just whoever is working, male or female. It is one of those shops with baked goods, fruit, crafts, specialty items, wines, etc. Lots of little knick-knacks that could be stolen. I asked DH to take notice and he thought the employees were following me around as well. We stopped going to that store.

It is unnerving to think that someone might have an expectation that you might steal something based on age, gender, race, how you are dressed, etc. but to me, feeling like it is because of my skin color just feels ugly. There have been times where I have not been treated well, such as in Neiman Marcus, when I had just come from the gym. I did not feel it was racial. I felt it was because I looked like a gym rat. Maybe they thought I could not afford to shop there (I could). It is difficult to explain to someone who has never had this happen based on race, and insulting when they try to justify or dismiss how I feel.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I have had a few experiences where I wondered if I was being paranoid or not. One recent example is in a store where we used to stop on our way to visit DHs parents, which is an a rural area a few hours from our home. We are a mixed race couple and I am mixed race. Every time I enter the store I am followed the entire time. DH is never followed (he is Caucasian). I noticed it many times, whether the store is crowded or not. An employee immediately asks if I need help (which is what I would expect them to do) and then trails me (which I would not expect). If I go to the restroom, an employee is waiting nearby and then trails me around the store until I leave. I do not think it is the same employee, just whoever is working, male or female. It is one of those shops with baked goods, fruit, crafts, specialty items, wines, etc. Lots of little knick-knacks that could be stolen. I asked DH to take notice and he thought the employees were following me around as well. We stopped going to that store.

It is unnerving to think that someone might have an expectation that you might steal something based on age, gender, race, how you are dressed, etc. but to me, feeling like it is because of my skin color just feels ugly. There have been times where I have not been treated well, such as in Neiman Marcus, when I had just come from the gym. I did not feel it was racial. I felt it was because I looked like a gym rat. Maybe they thought I could not afford to shop there (I could). It is difficult to explain to someone who has never had this happen based on race, and insulting when they try to justify or dismiss how I feel.

I don't feel paranoid when followed in certain stores anymore - merely amused mostly as I'm too old for the nonsense.
When asked for ID when presenting a c/c to pay I ask if this is store policy. The smart ones back down and blame the "error" on a trainee employee; the less intelligent get their comeuppance.
I'm polite to law enforcement officers in NYC but not friendly. Too many of them are on a power trip that is all encompassing. The way I see it if they disrespect the mayor what exactly do they think of the rest of us?
I'm quite content that everyone is now subject to a security check at the airport.

Don't let them get you down.

 

[pahoben]

I have worked outside the US most of my adult life including a few years in Equatorial Africa. My observation is that most people see you as a label. They see you as an “American” or they see you as a “white man” or they see you as a “foreigner”. There are very few that just see you as a unique individual and those people that do see you as an individual are your friends in that location. I think it is due to all the propaganda people are fed throughout their lives but it may have a deeper tribal component. I make every effort to learn from this and see people as individuals rather than labels.

In the main I think people everywhere want respect so respect them and a much better chance they will respect you even if they see you as a label.

Human beings are the most complex things in the known universe and to see them as a simple label or stereotype misses 99% of what is there.