Civil liberties groups have sued the New York Police Department for systematically targeting tens of thousands of Black and Latino drivers with unconstitutional vehicle searches that have been compared to “stop-and-frisk on wheels.” The New York Civil Liberties Union and the Bronx Defenders brought the lawsuit after data showed that of the nearly 75,000 vehicles searched by police over the past four years, 84% had Black or Latino drivers, while fewer than 4% had white drivers. Juval Scott is executive director of the Bronx Defenders.

Juval Scott: “Whether or not the vehicle searches work is not the question. The Constitution doesn’t allow the NYPD to violate people’s rights ever — not sometimes, not when it’s convenient, not even when they find contraband or weapons. The Constitution is here to protect us all, and that includes Black and Brown men.”