DES MOINES, Iowa - The Des Moines City Council has approved an ordinance banning racial profiling, but will hold further discussions before enacting it.
The ordinance allows for city employees to be fired if they're involved in the illegal discriminatory practice of racial profiling. The Des Moines Police Department has a similar policy in place.
An overflow crowd attended Monday's city council meeting, and a number of people were carrying signs reading "Stop The Stops" and "Skin Color Is Not A Crime."
Interest groups including Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP and the Iowa ACLU have endorsed a racial profiling ordinance. The groups think more work needs to be done on the city's ordinance, including a more clear definition of racial profiling and collections of information on police stops.