Rev. James Meeks says White cop pulled gun on him

Jet, August 1, 2005

Black leaders and politicians ate outraged over an alleged racial profiling incident in which the Rev. James Meeks, an Illinois state senator and prominent Chicago minister, was stopped by a White police officer who Meeks said put a gun to his head.

"Never have I had a gun pulled on me and put in my face, cursed in front of my wife and college-age son, and treated with such disrespect," said Meeks, pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, which recently opened a 10,000-seat worship center, House of Hope.

"If this is the way a respected clergyman, the pastor of the largest church in Illinois, a state senator and the chair of the Illinois Black Caucus is treated, I know the average young Black person on the street doesn't stand a chance."

The incident occurred when Meeks' driver was taking him, his wife and his son home from Bible study. Meeks said the officer pulled over their vehicle after they passed his police car stopped in the middle of a street. When Meeks got out of the car, the officer allegedly pulled out his gun and repeatedly yelled at Meeks.

Meeks said the officer, identified as Sgt. Clifford of Roseland's 5th District's Optional Services, repeatedly yelled at him to get back inside his vehicle. "Sergeant Clifford said, 'Get back in the (expletive) car,' Meeks said. "I then clearly identified myself as Rev. James Meeks and State Senator James Meeks. He said, 'I know who you are,' even as I repeated my name. He then pulled his gun out, stuck it in my face and repeated, 'Get back in the (expletive) car.'"

The officer issued four tickets, including one for failure to stop at a stop sign and another for an unfastened seat belt, the senator said.

At press time, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and other Black lawmakers called for the officer to be removed from duty until an investigation is completed.

Rep. Jackson said he was "outraged and stunned" by the incident. Jackson and others, including U.S. Reps. Bobby Rush and Danny Davis and State Rep. David Miller, said that if police mistreated Meeks, then they would likely abuse average citizens as well.

"Reverend Meeks is a staple in the Roseland community," Jackson said. "He is a well-known and highly respected religious leader in Roseland and Chicago. Therefore the violation he experienced is all the more appalling."

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley condemned the incident and noted the city would investigate thoroughly. "The kind of behavior Rev. Meeks described is not only appalling and unacceptable, it is an embarrassment to all of us who've worked hard to bring people together for the common good of a great city," he said.