Power trip: Know your rights

I am neither a cop-hater, nor one to moan about being put down by "The Man." I have volunteered for the Blaine PD before and am still good friends with our chief. I've done everything from dispatches to drug busts. I empathize with cops. This is why what I am about to say is significant. I am acutely aware of what rights I have and what it means when cops do certain things.

Since before Sept. 11, the Seattle PD has been suspiciously watching me. Last spring, on a Friday, dressed in full Islamic attire, turban and all, on the way to the mosque to perform a liturgical function in our Friday prayer, I walked from McMahon to the Pro Copy to meet a ride. On the way, I noticed an unmarked car stalking me. It happens; it wasn't a big deal; however, I was aware that they had taken interest in me.

My ride picked me up and we three, Imam, Muedhin and 'abid, headed to the mosque. It gets worse. In my naivete, I stopped paying attention to my shadow. Our car made it to north Shoreline, where this unmarked car put out lights and pulled us over. Two members of the SPD SWAT team proceeded to question us regarding bizarre and irrelevant things. Officers Stockwell #5385 and Bundy #5778 had stalked us from the Ave. to Shoreline: plain racial profiling. I learned it didn't matter what my police experience (lack of), criminal history or anything else was; I am a permanent suspect.

The SPD SWAT team was watching me. It wasn't unexpected. The president of the Muslim Student Association is in a position that is usually the target of all sorts of imaginative suspicion, from money laundering to outright terrorism. But I learned this quarter that even the common UWPD cop not only has a penchant for the standard suspicion but for outright violation of rights.

On the first Thursday of this quarter, at the Jackson School talk on Islam, I was trying to get into Kane. We had seats saved because the 7 p.m. start was a prayer time for us. When I came to claim my seat, an officer denied me. In the foyer of the balcony I stood, an obstinate uniform between my seat and me.

As this occurred, a fellow Daily writer made her way in. The cop let her in as she wrote for The Daily. "I write for The Daily too," I exclaimed. Sensing my situation, she turned around and told the cop that I too was a Daily writer. This guy told me to show him ID. The Caucasian girl gets let in as a Daily writer and I was asked for ID. When I brought up that fact the cop got mad and said, "You have to leave," and started to push me. If no warrant is served or arrest takes place, an officer has no right to touch you or your property. "Am I under arrest? If not get your hands off me." I said. "You will be in a minute," he replied.

"Then talk to me in a minute."

I got in despite our intrepid Boy Scout who saw his duty as protecting the Jackson School from brown folk. From that day, I have been harassed in person and/or property by the UWPD on six separate occasions, each time by a different cop, at each Jackson School event as well as on campus.

With such a menacing presence I give this advice to all students, especially of minority backgrounds. If an officer tries to get information from you regarding any security issue tell, him to send questions to your lawyer because chances are that you cannot help, as you don't have any info to give.

Second, you don't have to speak to or obey a police officer without an arrest or warrant. If an officer tells you to do something and you have grounds to think that you are not violating any law, don't do it. Often police intimidate people because they are used to being obeyed and people unwittingly give up their own basic rights and become voluntary subjects of harassment.

Finally, always write the name and badge number (read it straight off the badge) of every cop you speak to, as well as the time, when/where of the incident. Thomas Jefferson told us that government is a necessary evil: This includes the police. They can only protect our security. It is up to us to vigilantly protect our freedom.

Humza Chaudhry is president of the Muslim Students Association. Opinions expressed here are his own.