More Portland traffic stops for African Americans

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — African Americans were stopped by Portland police at a higher rate than any other city residents in 2009.

Two new reports say black residents accounted for 12 percent of all Portland police traffic stops last year when they make up only about 6 percent of the city’s population.

And when police record all subject stops, not just traffic stops, African Americans made up 21 percent last year.

The figures come from the Portland Police Bureau’s “Community Relations Report” for 2009 and a longer-term study by Portland State University.

The PSU study shows that blacks have been stopped at more than twice the rate of white motorists from 2004 through June 2008.

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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com