Marin County’s effort to avert turf wars at the county fair by cracking down on the way gang members dress at the event discriminates against young people of color, the American Civil Liberties Union warned.

But the Board of Supervisors, which last week endorsed the new dress code proposed by staff just weeks before the annual fair, unanimously adopted the measure Tuesday despite concerns about racial profiling.

“In our experience, a gang code, a gang ordinance, focuses attention on people of color” and provides “a license to law enforcement to make subjective judgments,” said Alan Schlosser of Mill Valley, legal director of the of the ACLU in Northern California.

The county board declined to delay action, instructing staff to provide a detailed report on the number of people contacted about gang garb and the number turned away or ejected from the fair when they fail to remove or cover up gang insignia.

“The concern about profiling is a legitimate concern,” said Supervisor Steve Kinsey. “There are really important rights being considered here.”

Supervisor Susan Adams noted gang members can attend the event as long as they do not wear “colors” signifying gang membership, a situation authorities say incites members of rival gangs and leads to conflict. “We’re not saying gang members aren’t welcome,” Adams said. “Everybody is welcome,” she added. “We’re saying leave your insignia home.”

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