University Chronicle

Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Nicole Bock Luke Tripp, a professor of community studies, spoke about racial profiling in St. Cloud to students and the Council on Black Minnesotans during a public hearing on racial profiling Tuesday night. The event was conducted in the Atwood Theater.

Members of minority groups made complaints about racial profiling in St. Cloud Tuesday at a public hearing hosted by the Council on Black Minnesotans.

Some of the testimonies given included harassment by the police, both in the public streets and neighborhood.

The alleged discrimination happened in different parts of St. Cloud. One of the victims of the alleged discrimination included a professor at SCSU.

Luke Tripp, professor of community studies and chairperson, said he was walking on a public road beside a football training ground close to Tech high school when a police squad car approached him and signaled for him to stop.

The police officer asked him what he was carrying and implied he was acting like a bag snatcher.

He informed the officer that was not the case, and he identified himself as a community member.

He has been involved in the community for 18 years.

A short time later, another police squad car pulled up as a backup.

Tripp was defended by another professor.

Tamrat Tademe, professor of human relations and multicultural education defended Tripp in front of the Council on Black Minnesotans, saying he knew who Tripp was and that he was not capable of threatening anyone.

The Council on Black Minnesotans promotes the right of black Minnesotans and other minority groups.

They report to the Minnesota Legislature about protecting and promoting the rights of minority groups.

The board also heard testimonies from other victims of racial profiling, which included testimony by a black female SCSU student.

Continued...

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