The Chattanooga chapter of the NAACP will meet with the City Council’s public safety committee Tuesday to address what it perceives as racial profiling in the community.

After community meetings about the shootings of two black men by city police officers this summer, the NAACP concluded that the general perception among residents is that Chattanooga and Hamilton County have major race problems, according to a news release.

The city and county governments have “a terrible record of doing business with local, African American small-owned businesses,” according to the NAACP release.

Minority residents are skeptical of police after “years of poor relationships” and “that people of color are disparately impacted by police activity is undeniable,” according to the release.

The NAACP is asking city officials to address the issue by opening discussion about race, analyzing search-and-seizure data on residents, and hiring officers from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

It is asking the police department to address racial profiling and excessive use of force.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.