FRIENDS OF JUSTICE HAS MANY ALLIES

In his Aug. 15 column, "Friends of Justice needs to come clean with
facts," Gordon Scott seems to want to change the subject.

Since he has found there is nothing to be gained by criticizing
Friends of Justice for what we are, he has turned to criticizing us
for whom we associate with.

Dr. Scott wants us to be more "candid" about these dark associations.
I don't see how we could be more candid.

We blasted e-mail and fax notices all across the country proudly
announcing that dozens of individuals representing myriad
organizations had been given a seat at our table for "Never Again!"

We have found allies among the clergy, the League of United Latin
American Citizens, National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, American Civil Liberties Union, Kunstler Fund for
Racial Justice, criminal-justice reform advocates, drug-policy reform
advocates (including Drug Policy Forum of Texas) and concerned
citizens in general.

Obviously, none of these groups share everything in common. What we
do share is a belief that justice was not served in the infamous
Tulia drug sting of '99.

Does this mean that Friends of Justice advocates the legalization of
drugs? To my knowledge, the discussion never has come up. Instead, we
have been busy acting as advocates for those who were wrongfully
convicted in a Swisher County courthouse and for Texas
criminal-justice reform that would raise the standards of evidence
and hold police more accountable when conducting undercover drug
operations.

Jesus of Nazareth was forever in trouble because he chose to
associate with "undesirables." Friends of Justice stands proudly with
all who insist that justice must be available to the least of us,
regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

Brad Carter

Friends of Justice