NAACP CHAPTER ANNOUNCES PLANS TO FILE SUIT DURING RALLY

TULIA - The Amarillo chapter of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People announced Monday its latest action against
alleged civil rights violations in Swisher County.

Chapter president Alphonso Vaughn said the chapter will file a complaint
this week with the U.S. Department of Justice.

The complaint is under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which
governs municipalities.

If the complaint is successful, federal funds could be withheld from
Swisher County, Vaughn said.

The announcement was made at a rally in Tulia at Swisher Electric
Cooperative Inc. on Monday afternoon.

The rally was the second in a week in conjunction with a lawsuit filed in
U.S. District Court in Amarillo on Sept. 29 by the Texas affiliate of the
American Civil Liberties Union.

The lawsuit alleges that undercover agent Tom Coleman, Swisher County
Sheriff Larry Stewart and District Attorney Terry McEachern conspired to
violate the civil rights of local blacks.

McEachern and Stewart have denied the allegations previously.

Coleman was the lone officer who conducted the 18-month drug operation.

The worth of Coleman's word was in dispute during the trial of a
24-year-old Tulia man who ultimately received a 60-year prison term.
Although described by some as an excellent lawman, others challenged his
character.

Vaughn said Monday the Amarillo chapter will meet with the 47th District
Attorney's office about possible perjured testimony by Coleman.

Amarillo attorney Jeff Blackburn filed the Sept. 29 lawsuit on behalf of
his client, Yul Bryant, a man who Blackburn said protested his innocence
for seven months before the charge was dropped and he finally was released
from jail.

The lawsuit asks for $1 million in actual damages and $1 million in
punitive damages from each of the three being sued.

The Amarillo chapter of the NAACP will ask their national leaders to allow
the chapter to join a lawsuit against Swisher County officials, president
Alphonso Vaughn said previously.

The Amarillo NAACP chapter conducted its own investigation into the drug
cases, Vaughn said. The NAACP contacted Swisher County officials and
examined court documents and trial transcripts.