Delaware State University, a historically Black college, says women’s lacrosse team was racially profiled during Georgia traffic stop

The workforce’s bus was headed north on I-95 in Liberty County on April 20 following a recreation in Florida when it was stopped “underneath the pretext of a minor visitors violation,” Delaware State College President Tony Allen stated in an announcement. Liberty County is on Georgia’s coast, south of Savannah.

“We weren’t conscious that this cease was acquired as racial profiling,” Bowman stated throughout a information convention Tuesday. “Though I don’t imagine any racial profiling befell primarily based on the knowledge I presently have, I welcome suggestions from our group on ways in which our legislation enforcement practices could be improved whereas nonetheless sustaining the legislation,” he stated.

“Everybody was confused as to why they have been trying by the bags, when there was no possible trigger,” Anderson wrote.

“The workforce members have been in shock, as they witnessed the officers rambling by their baggage. They introduced the Ok-9 canine out to smell their baggage. The cops started tossing underwear and different female merchandise, in an try to find narcotics,” she stated.

The deputies spent 20 minutes checking the baggage and stated they have been doing so “in case of kid trafficking or medication,” Anderson stated.

Deputies had been patrolling the interstate that day and “there have been a number of different industrial autos stopped that morning, together with one other bus the place contraband was positioned,” Bowman stated.

Video exhibits deputies on the bus

One deputy could be heard saying, “If there’s something in y’all’s baggage, we’re most likely going to seek out it — OK. I am not in search of a bit of little bit of marijuana, however I am fairly positive you guys’ chaperones are most likely going to be disenchanted in you if we discover any.”

The officer continued: “So if there’s something in there that is questionable, please inform me now. As a result of if we discover it, guess what — we’re not going to have the ability to enable you. You might be within the state of Georgia, marijuana continues to be unlawful.”

CNN has not been capable of verify what occurred earlier than the filming began or what occurred after the recording stopped. CNN additionally requested extra clips of the incident from the college and was advised by the college’s director of Information Companies, Carlos Holmes, that different video exists however the high quality was poor.

The deputies concerned weren’t recognized by the sheriff in the course of the information convention.

Bowman famous the deputies knowledgeable the passengers as soon as onboard {that a} search could be accomplished. He defined that no matter race, gender or age, the identical protocol could be carried out. Nevertheless, he stated no private objects on the bus or any particular person have been searched.

“Earlier than coming into the motorcoach, the deputy was not conscious that this college was traditionally black or conscious of the race of the occupants because of the peak of the automobile and tinted home windows,” Bowman stated.

“Greater than something, we wish suggestions from the passengers of the Delaware State College Lacrosse Group on what communication approaches could be thought of that we merely might not be conscious of,” the sheriff stated Tuesday.

CNN reached out to Delaware State College for remark following the information convention held by the Liberty County sheriff.

In his assertion, Allen known as the incident a “humiliating course of” and stated the college is “exploring choices for recourse — authorized and in any other case — out there to our student-athletes, our coaches, and the College.”

“We don’t intend to let this or another incident prefer it cross idly by. We’re ready to go wherever the proof leads us. Now we have video. Now we have allies. Maybe extra considerably, we’ve the braveness of our convictions,” Allen stated within the assertion.