LYNUM'S OVERREACTION

Orlando City Commissioner Off Base In Racial-Profiling Accusation

There's no question that racial profiling -- targeting minorities for
arrests simply because they are a minority -- is a repulsive way of
doing police business. But every piece of information available
indicates that Orange County Commission candidate Juan Lynum was not a
victim of racial profiling when he was pulled over by police last
month in Orlando's Parramore neighborhood.

Mr. Lynum's car had a headlight that was out. That gave an Orlando
police officer due cause to pull him over.

It is unfortunate -- if not inflammatory -- for his mother, Orlando
Commissioner Daisy Lynum, to suggest otherwise. "I just didn't want
some white boy shooting my son or tasing him," Mrs. Lynum told the
Sentinel.

There are several troubling issues at play here. First, Mrs. Lynum
called Police Chief Mike McCoy at 1 a.m., setting off a series of
events that would allow Mr. Lynum to leave the scene without a citation.

Beyond undue influence, Mrs. Lynum's comments have understandably
incensed police officials, who are demanding an apology.

Mrs. Lynum remains unrepentant, and has proposed that the City
Commission establish a racial-profiling ordinance that would be
drafted by -- guess who -- the law firm that employs her son.

It's time to pull the tent on this circus.

Mrs. Lynum's actions serve no purpose other than to divide the
community and trivialize actual profiling cases. And that's far worse
than stopping someone for driving around with a busted headlight.