Asian Americans Accuse California Sheriff of Racial Harassment

Civil rights groups sued a Northern California county and its sheriff alleging “a sweeping campaign to harass and intimidate Hmong and other Asian Americans” under arguments of enforcing water and cannabis-related laws.

The federal lawsuit claims Siskiyou County and Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue have used widespread racial profiling in traffic stops, restricted access to water making it difficult for Asian American residents to live, and placed unlawful liens to dispossess Asian Americans of their land.

“This targeting is designed to drive a disfavored racial minority from the County and has its roots in anti-Asian racism in Siskiyou dating back to the ...