The Traveler

Issue date: 3/9/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Cody Bennet The group Citizens of Northwest Arkansas Against Racial Profiling on Dickson Street organized a march on Dickson Street last month to rally against racial profiling at certain bars on the street.

Northwest Arkansas residents and UA students marched against racial profiling on Dickson Street last month, addressing Attorney General Eric Holder's accusation that America is a nation of cowards when it comes to discussing race.

The group Citizens of Northwest Arkansas Against Racial Profiling on Dickson Street - led by Lesleigh Creel, Corbin Blake and Ana Lorena Hart - is a local call-to-action to break out of what Holder has called "race-protected cocoons."

Creel recognized the need for such a group when she witnessed racial profiling on Dickson Street on several different occasions. The most prominent instance, she said, was at the bar Stir, where one of her African-American friends was rejected because he was wearing a hat.

Before she and her friends were able to leave, however, a group of white men wearing baseball caps were permitted to enter Stir.

"This is exactly why I started this forum - to get dialogue going, hear people's thoughts, get ideas and move forward," Creel said on the organization's Facebook group.

The group began as a vague idea between Creel and Blake. Through the comparison of various instances of racial prejudice on Dickson Street, the two decided to take action.

Creel had the idea of using Facebook for publicity, but she also had a few contacts in mind, like Hart. Using this as a base, the group grew through networking, and since then, members have exchanged and executed many ideas.

"This is a place for people to bring their stories to the table and discuss ideas for action," Blake said.

Though Creel, Blake and Hart are the Facebook group's administrators and among the most adamant participants, the organization has no spokesperson or official structure, and Blake said everyone has an equal voice.

A letter that was sent to Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan to explain the apparent racial profiling is displayed on the group's Facebook page, and in it, a resident relays his most recent experience with the bar Shotz, which is also owned by David Bass, the owner of Stir.

Continued...

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