Even Dallas Police officers expressed concern that protocols were abandoned

In a recent interview, Michelle Obama told BET.com that she and husband Barack would not let fears about his safety undermine his push to become the first Black president. But a recent action – or rather “inaction” – by the U.S. Secret Service is only fanning the fears that many Americans – particularly Black Americans – have about the vulnerability of an African-American president. A report by the Dallas Police revealed that the Secret Service, the federal law enforcement agency whose chief responsibility is to protect the president – as well as presidential candidates – told officers to stop screening people for weapons who were arriving at one of Obama’s jam-packed campaign events.

The order, police officials said, amounted to a serious security lapse at an Obama rally attended by roughly 17,000 people.