In the wake of the Trayvon Martin case an his own experiences, Tyler Perry has called for federal agents to take racial profiling seriously as a potential hate crime.
The Good Deeds director took to Facebook to discuss Martin, who was shot and killed in Florida in February by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman.
Moreover, Perry alleges he was pulled over in L.A. late one night for an illegal turn, reprimanded for having tinted windows, and realized he was in big trouble.
Tyler Perry writes on his official page:
“My mother would always say to me, ‘if you get stopped by the police, especially if they are white policemen, you say ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir’, and if they want to take you in, you go with them. Don’t resist, you hear me?"
"Don’t make any quick moves, don’t run, just go.’ It wasn’t until after I heard her voice that I realized that both officers were white… I didn’t feel safe at all."
"At this point, I told him (the arresting officer) that I wanted to get out of the car. I wanted the passersby to see what was happening.”
However, once a black officer pulled up at the scene and recognized Perry, the officials apologized and let him go. But the incident has stayed with him.
Perry wonders what he might have endured if he lacked celebrity status.
“I know that there are many great officers, patrolmen and security guys out there. I am aware of that. But although we have made significant strides with racial profiling in this country, the world needs to know we are still being profiled."
"Until this situation has improved greatly, I’m not sure how a murder in Florida can be protected by a ‘stand your ground law’. RACIAL PROFILING SHOULD BE A HATE CRIME INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI!!!"
If there's a federal investigation process, he says, "that way local government can’t make the decision on whether or not these people get punished.”
George Zimmerman has not been charged with a crime, claiming he shot Martin in self-defense. A grand jury will be impaneled to hear the case April 10.
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