Candidate Weiner Criticizes Stop-And-Frisk Program
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner on Saturday criticized the NYPD stop-and-frisk program during an appearance at the Rev. Al Sharpton's headquarters in Harlem.
Weiner, a former U.S. congressman, said police have to make sure they are not targeting young black and Hispanic men because of their race.
Every year, police officers briefly detain and question hundreds of thousands of innocent New Yorkers in an attempt to find weapons or drugs.
Weiner said there is "virtually zero" chance his own toddler son will be stopped by police when he is 17 years old.
But Weiner said that Jordan might get in trouble. He added, "Being my son, I have a feeling he might."
The reference to Weiner's 2011 texting scandal drew laughter.
The NYPD has repeatedly said the program can be credited with deterring crime. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also come out in strong defense of the program, saying it has helped keep New Yorkers safe and accusing politicians who oppose it of playing election-year politics.
Weiner entered the mayoral race last month. He resigned from Congress two years ago in the wake of a Twitter scandal after lewd pictures he sent to at least six women surfaced.
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