If it doesn’t happen to a celebrity, is it racial profiling?

So here’s the latest example of a shocking racial profiling incident that wouldn’t have made the news except that it happened to a celebrity, in this case an NFL running back named Ryan Moats. According to the Dallas Morning News, Moats was rushing to a local hospital with his wife to be at the bedside of her dying mother when he was pulled over at the entrance to the hospital by a police officer for running a red light. Moats tried to explain the situation, but the cop insisted that he find his insurance card or he would have the car towed. Nurses from the hospital and another cop even tried to plead his case to no avail. Twenty minutes later the incident was over, but too late. Moats’ mother-in-law had died. Fortunately Moats’ wife ignored the cop’s orders and went to her dying mother’s bedside anyway and was able to comfort her before she passed.

For most Americans, we take for granted that we will be treated with respect and dignity by law enforcement because they are after all public servants. Unfortunately some of us are treated like criminals without being given an iota of the benefit of the doubt.