NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro Councilmembers representing South Nashville are responding to Sunday’s “public safety operation,” saying the traffic stops are an example of racial profiling designed to instill fear in the community.

“These are our neighbors. These are our small business owners. These are our laborers. These are people who help to make Nashville what it is, and to see our federal government constantly attacking some of the most vulnerable people in our community, is beyond infuriating,” Metro Council member Jeff Preptit told News 2.

Metro Councilmember Prepti said the operation is a “direct targeting of Black and Brown motorists” and poses a threat to the American Dream.

While the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) says their operation was based on data involving serious crashes and gang-related activity, Metro Council member Ginny Welsch says she believes the traffic stops were pretextual and aimed toward a specific group.

“This is the lowest hanging fruit that you can look at someone and on the outside decide there's a good chance they might be X, Y, or Z, and we're going to take this action against them. It's unconstitutional, it's immoral, it's unconscionable, and it cannot be accepted or tolerated in a civil society," Welsch told News 2.

Sunday's operation comes just one day before the Trump administration rolled out a plan to offer undocumented immigrants $1,000 if they self-deport.

"It's designed to be shocking and frightening so that people will remove themselves from situations, maybe self deport…It's designed to put fear in people's lives and to let people know that the big hand of the government can come down and snatch your life away from you in a heartbeat,” Welsch added.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/ice-and-thp-operation-a-targeting-of-black-and-brown-motorists-in-nashville-metro-council-member-says/