I had to write this down while I was still piping mad.
I was on a CTA (Chicago's public transit system) Red Line train heading for downtown this morning. There is usually a security sweep at one Loop subway stop or another, presumably looking for bombs or weapons. Security personnel lead a dog through the platform with train doors open.
This time however, the security guard stopped and banged on the window. He approached my section. But he did not bother me. Instead he woke up a young, African-American man who was dozing on the seat in front of me.
He didn't just wake him up, he yelled at him and ordered him off of the train. I was flabbergasted. (More below the fold).
What was the gentleman's crime, you ask?
Sleeping on a train. I asked the security guard if it was illegal to doze on a subway train. He claimed that it was, and that announcements were made to that effect. I ride CTA trains 5 days a week and NEVER remember any announcement that it was illegal to SLEEP on a CTA train.
(Help me out here anyone, have you heard such announcements?)
In any event, let's say that the gentleman had been white and decked out in a suit and tie. Would the security guard have screamed at him and ordered him off the train? I don't think so.
This form of blatant racism must not be allowed to continue!
Anyone who has experienced this sort of conduct (or witnessed it) feel free to comment below.