NEVER SAY NEVER, EXCEPT IN TULIA

On July 22-23, 400 people assembled in Tulia's Conner Park to
commemorate the second anniversary of the drug sting of July 23, 1999.

Friends of Justice, a faith-based, grass-roots organization, crafted
the simple theme that was to dominate the evening: Never again, not in
Tulia, not anywhere!

Twelve religious leaders representing Baptist, Church of Christ,
Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Roman Catholic and non-denominational faith
communities participated in the seven-hour program.

H.M. Baggarly, longtime country editor of the Tulia Herald, told us
that "a nation is great according to the way it treats the masses, the
poor, the needy and the unfortunate."

Tulia minister Edward Watters used the words of Jesus to make a
similar point: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Baptist pastor Nancy Sehested reminded us that Jesus was condemned on
the word of false witnesses.

And so the religious community came to Tulia to say, "Never again: not
in Tulia, not anywhere!"

Civil rights organizations were well represented at the Never Again
Rally. Three speakers from the American Civil Liberties Union, four
members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People, and three representatives from the League of United Latin
American Citizens stood in solidarity with the sting victims and their
families.

A former U.S. senator and a representative from the federal Justice
Department were on hand to register their concern, and the human
rights group Amnesty International threw its backing behind the rally.

The civil rights community came to Tulia to say, "Never again: not in
Tulia, not anywhere!"

Our protracted war on drugs has been an expensive, immoral, and
utterly futile catastrophe.

Drug policy reformers are searching for workable alternatives to the
drug war.

They want to put the international drug cartels out of business, push
drug dealers off the streets, and minimize the harmful effects of drug
abuse. Drug policy reformers came to Tulia because the events of July
23, 1999, unmasked a flawed policy spinning wildly out of control.

If American citizens can be convicted solely on the word of an
unreliable witness like Tom Coleman, no one is safe.

Laden with computers and school supplies for our children, the drug
policy reform community came to Tulia to say, "Never again: not in
Tulia, not anywhere!"

The law enforcement community was also well represented at the Never
Again Rally.

Officer Doyle Ozment served as liaison between the Tulia Police
Department and rally organizers and was, as always, a model of
professional courtesy.

The Friends of Justice appreciate and respect the men and women of the
law enforcement community.

Some of us grew up without police protection, and it was an experience
we'd rather not repeat.

Nonetheless, like preachers, popes and politicians, peace officers are
accountable to the people they serve.

The words of the prophet Micah lift our eyes above human authority to
a higher allegiance: "He hath shewed thee, O Man, what is good; and
what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justice, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God" (Micah 6:8).

Confronted by the proud, merciless, injustice they call the Tulia drug
sting, true friends of justice have but one response: Never again, not
in Tulia, not anywhere!