Two Democrats Introduce Bill to End Racial Profiling

Two Democratic lawmakers have introduced a new bill that would seek to end racial profiling at the hands of law enforcement as a direct response to the George Zimmerman verdict.

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., joined forces to announce two versions of the End Racial Profiling Act of 2013. The two lawmakers had previously pushed similar legislation in 2011 and the bill had also appeared several times before that -- it was brought up in 2001, 2004, and 2007.

The legislation aims to attack racial profiling by including mandatory training for federal law enforcement on racial profiling issues, requiring submitting data on all routine and spontaneous investigatory activities to the Department of Justice and implementing protocols that discourage racial profiling. The attorney general would also be required to make reports periodically assessing the nature of any discriminatory profiling practices.

All co-sponsors of the Senate bill are Democrats and include Majority Leader Harry Reid, Majority Whip Dick Durbin and several other senators from across the country. All 39 co-sponsors of the House version of the bill are also Democrats.

"Ultimately, Trayvon is one of too many individuals across the country who have been victimized by a perception of criminality simply because of their race, ethnicity, religion or national origin," said Conyers. "These individuals are denied the basic respect and equal treatment that is the right of every American."