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It's slightly different if you're driving, you're required to identify yourself if pulled over.
Whilst I agree that it's unlikely anything negative is likely to happen as a direct result of providing ID when asked to do so, I wouldn't do it unless I was required to by law.
I'm white and wouldn't dream of speaking on behalf of a person of colour or any member of any sort of marginalised community that's the victim of police harassment but the idea that, if stopped, you should go along with whatever the police officer feels like asking of you, whether required by the law or not, doesn't sit right with me. I've been involved in a lot of direct action over the years so have spent a lot of time messing about with unfriendly coppers, being directly lied to and having the law bent because they don't like you and want to spoil your day, I can't imagine that being my daily experience because of the colour of my skin.
By unquestioningly complying with any irrelevant or unlawful demands, just because a copper has asked you to, tips the balance of power in an already wildly unbalanced scenario further in the favour of the police.
I'm sure it's not what you're trying to get at but your position comes across as sounding a bit "if you've done nothing wrong you've got nothing to fear", which is clearly very authoritarian and more importantly just not true.Anyway, just my 2p on the matter based on my experience, hopefully didn't come across as being on the offence, I'm genuinely interested to hear other people's experiences.
ltc-
your position comes across
I thought their position was clearly not that, fwiw. But @Dogtemple there doesn't have to be a reason associated with the 'after' - although I concur with @adroit 's thoughts on that - it's the 'now' that provides the reason. Choosing not to comply when there is no reason to and their motivations are based in prejudice and power.
I think you're possibly relating it to your experiences too much (where the reason for withholding information is due to fear of what comes next).
hoefla
I get people are pissed off with it but if police asked I would give it, they're not just anyone on the street. i used to get pulled over in my car a lot for the same sort of reason, how I looked and the type of car I was driving. not the same as being singled out by ethnicity I know but it was based on appearances and nothing else. I didn't see an issue with telling them who I was, giving ID etc, I don't know what would actually happen from giving it though? thats more my question, the belief of what them having your name, address etc will lead to.
I work in an equally unpopular with the public, public service job and we have to routinely ask for peoples name and date of birth a just as a first step. theres nothing malicious in it and we do get people refusing and it usually is defensive but I've always wondered what is behind that reluctance. it almost always rings alarm bells, such as something they have done is wrong and the way they present themselves by arguing over it. this happens over the phone so its not like you can really judge the person even if you wanted to at this stage.