RIFT OVER TULIA DRUG BUST DEEPENS WITH DUAL RALLIES

TULIA - Divisions in Tulia were evident Monday as supporters and opponents
of last year's controversial drug bust, which affected primarily blacks,
staged separate rallies only blocks from each other.

More than 200 people packed into the Swisher Memorial Building to show
their support for the drug operation that resulted in the arrests of 43
people, 40 of whom are black.

Organizers at the memorial building had to hold two meetings because not
everyone could fit into the meeting room.

Hours earlier, members of a group calling itself the Friends of Justice
gathered at the Swisher Electric Cooperative Inc. building, donning black
and gold T-shirts that read: ''Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly.''

At least 100 people attended that rally to sing songs and eat dinner.

The rallies come in the wake of a lawsuit filed by the Texas affiliate of
the American Civil Liberties Union. The suit seeks $6 million from law
enforcement officials connected to the drug case. The lawsuit, filed in
Amarillo, alleges that local officials and undercover agent Tom Coleman
conspired to violate the civil rights of blacks in Tulia.

Cynthia Finck and her husband, Trent, said they believe their community of
about 5,000 people has been unfairly portrayed by the media.

''They've got us painted like we're terrible people living here,'' Trent
Finck said.

Cynthia Finck said a few naysayers are merely trying to stir up trouble.

''People try to paint Tulia as a racist community, but we wouldn't be here
if this wasn't a good community,'' she said.

Tulia resident Chandra Vancleave, who was implicated in drug trafficking by
Coleman, said her arrest was a sham.

Vancleave, who is white, entered into a plea agreement, and her charges
were dropped from a felony to a misdemeanor.

She was accused of selling cocaine to Coleman. The drug convictions have
rested largely the word of Coleman, who's been criticized as dishonest and
untruthful by some but praised as a lawman by others.

Vancleave said she never sold drugs to Coleman and that she'd never seen
him until the day she was freed from jail.

''The first time I had ever, ever saw Tom Coleman, I didn't even know it
was him,'' she said. ''I was getting booked out of jail, and he was walking
right in front of my face. If I'd have known it was him, I'd have slapped
him.''

Five Texas Rangers and several local law enforcement officials monitored
both meetings to ensure they were peaceful, which they were.

Supporters of the drug bust hope to organize several committees that will
promote their community and show continued support for the undercover
operation.

The undercover drug operation led to the imprisonment of 16 percent of
Tulia's black population. Protesters say it's clear that the sting was
racially motivated.

Linda Kane can be contacted at 766-8754 or lkane@lubbockonline.com

Photo caption: Rev. Charles Kiker speaks to residents during the rally
against the drug bust in Tulia. A-J Photo/Chris Getteau