According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the definition of racial profiling is a discriminatory practice in which law enforcement uses race, religion, or national origin as the sole objective to determine their level of suspicion towards this person having committed a crime (ACLU 1). This definition essentially states that an officer's interaction with a person based solely on their race, religion, or ethnicity may be considered racial profiling. This in itself is a precise definition of racial profiling and addresses the key facts that should be used. For an interaction to be considered racial profiling, it must have been initiated by a member of law enforcement solely on the basis of race, national origin, or religion. These disparities were almost always facts of the past of many cities, notably Los Angeles. The question that needs to be asked is: “Is racial profiling still a common practice in Los Angeles?” The answer is a resounding “maybe.” There are debates over the meaning of certain facts and figures and whether they represent signs of racial profiling, with one side arguing that racial profiling is undoubtedly manifested by the numbers and the other arguing that When these numbers are considered in context, they represent good policing. .Historically, Los Angeles was considered a hotbed of racial tension. These tensions reached their peak on April 29, 1992 (Wang1). That day, four white police officers were acquitted of a crime. Their crime was the assault of a black man named Rodney King. Rodney King was an usher at Dodgers Stadium who was arrested during a traffic stop. Police charged Rodney King with speeding, driving under the influence and failure... middle of paper ... the job they can do and sometimes the effects of a job well done seem to be something they are not. .Works Cited Ayres, Ian. “Racial profiling in Los Angeles: The numbers don’t lie.” » Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, October 23, 2008. web. November 30, 2011. .Mac Donald, Heather. “What looks like profiling might just be good policing.” Mahattan Institute for Policy Research. Los Angeles Times, January 23, 2003. Web. November 30, 2011. “Racial Profiling: Definition.” ACLU. American Civil Liberties Union, November 25, 2005. Web. November 30, 2011. Wang, Tabitha. “Rodney King Riot, 1992.” The dark past. The Black Past, 2011. Web. November 30 2011. .