Last night I was strolling along the strip astride thousands of the excited teaming masses out for a night on-the-town when a shocking incident unfolded on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Just a few steps from one of a handful of Al Fresco nightclubs, tourists were taken aback to witness a small brigade of officers handcuffing a couple of males somewhat roughly in plain view amid the night's fanciful partying.
In fact, as concerned citizens are want to do on occasion when something doesn't "smell right", they turned their cameras and cell phones in the direction of the officers with the specific aim of capturing the conflict on video for future reference.
For some inexplicable reason, there was a glaring "police" presence out in full-force last night. Officers tended to be paired-off in two's and casually patrolled along the bustling street with a keen eye to passers-by who trembled at the end of their cold stares.
As I approached MGM, I was quite disturbed to observe a burly officer stride up to a young man, then bully him somewhat. Just as he was about to use force on the slim unthreatening fellow, the cop happened to half-turn and notice me out of the corner of his eye - at which point - he instructed the youth to "relax". Then, he ordered him to squat on the pavement.
I overheard the young man protest, "What have I done?"
A fellow officer approached another lad nearby and got a little rough with him, too.
What was most distressing was the fact that all the pedestrians on the street they were harassing were young black men, attired in fashionable hip-hop clothing, with a decided flair for a lot of bling.
Well, it hit me right away: racial profiling!
Notwithstanding, from what I witnessed, the officers were not following correct police procedure - and consequently - it was evident that their victim's rights were being violated.
To be singled out like that, and humiliated in front of throngs of tourists on the festive streets of Las Vegas, must have been a very degrading, demeaning experience!
In all the years I have been visiting Las Vegas, I have never encountered such wild, improper police conduct, under the color of authority.
It is one thing to be engaged in surveillance to effect an arrest for alleged crimes being committed. But, quite another to discriminate without good cause and openly engage in racial profiling.
If what occurred last night is a sign that things are amiss on the streets of Las Vegas, then the powers-that-be at City Hall - and other elected officials - should take swift severe action to find an equitable solution to the problem.
Otherwise, I can only predict that Las Vegas' days as a mecca for tourism are numbered.
It may be wise to pay heed to a quote from George Orwell's book, Animal Farm, in this instance case:
"All are equal except some are more equal than others"
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