Panthers Linemen Victim of Racial Profiling?

Carolina Panthers defensive guard D’Anthony Batiste is making headlines, saying that race played a role in his recent arrest. Batiste was pulled over for having his windows tinted too dark. After he was initially pulled over, police then searched his car. Batiste was arrested and initially charged with carrying a concealed weapon. However, the charges against Batiste have now been thrown out by a local judge in the county where the incident occurred.

At a time when the NFL is cracking down and utilizing what basically amounts to a “No Tolerance” policy for off-field misconduct, it is certainly appropriate that this type of discussion enter into the debate. Unfortunately, we live in a country in which large, rich, African-American males with flashy clothes, cars, and jewelry are viewed in a certain way by certain people. Does this make them easy marks? In light of the revelations about the last Tank Johnson arrest, in which it was found that he had ultimately done nothing wrong, though only after the Bears released him, I believe this debate is more important than ever.

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