The Secret Service detained and questioned a demonstrator today in what appeared to be a clear case of racial profiling.

At some point during the march from Boston Common to the Fleet Center, Secret Service agents approached the a man who appeared to be in his early 20s and of South Asian (Indian or Pakistani) descent, and wearing a full beard, and said they wanted to ask him some questions. The young man refused to talk with them and kept marching.

They followed him for about a half-mile along the march, then stopped him again and asked his name and identification. When he refused again, they detained and handcuffed him.

When I showed up he was sitting on steps near Government Center, surrounded by several cops. A small group of supporters surrounded them, chanting about racial profiling, ("Marching while non-white, that's the crime," etc.), and asking the police what the guy had done, why they were detaining him. They didn't answer us.

Attorney John Pavlos arrived on the scene and began advising him. After some time, an agreement was reached whereby he would allow himself to be officially photographed by the police, and he would then be released.

After the photo was taken, someone in the crowd began yelling that they would arrest him anyway, and began pointing in the direction where he said the police vehicle would arrive. I thought this guy was being paranoid, but he turned out to be right.

They continued to hold him there for another ten minutes or so, then took him away to a police car and drove him off to a station nearby. THEY BROKE THE DEAL.

The attorney, John Pavlos, then gave a quick press conference. Pavlos said, "The Secret Service was very clear that they observed him looking around." That appears to be the extent of the Secret Service's concern with him, that he was "looking around." That, and, presumably, that he looked Muslim.

Pavlos also said the police took him away before he had a chance to advise him, and said, "He understands he's not required to speak to the Secret Service."

Later in the afternoon the National Lawyers Guild informed me he'd been released.