RALLY RAISES RED FLAG OVER DRUG BUST

Meeting at Tech addresses concerns of racism in Tulia arrests

At least 100 people listened Wednesday night to community members from Tulia
voice concerns about a massive drug bust last year that they claim unjustly
targeted blacks.

The 18-month undercover operation was conducted solely by an officer with a
questionable history, the Rev. Charles Kiker told the audience at Texas
Tech.

Kiker, a Tulia native, is a founding member of a watchdog group in Tulia
called Friends of Justice that began organizing after the drug bust, in
which 40 blacks and three others were arrested.

''Something's terribly wrong in Swisher County where blacks were targeted in
this community,'' he said. ''The drug sting is one aspect in a pattern of
law enforcement abuse in Swisher County.

''When the citizens no longer believe in the system, something's gravely
wrong.''

In a town with only about 5,000 residents, Kiker said that the arrests of 43
suspected drug dealers is outlandish.

''If there are 43 drug dealers in Tulia, Texas, who are the buyers?'' he
asked rhetorically.

The audience, which responded with enthusiastic clapping for the speakers,
consisted of Tech students and a handful of Tulia residents, who drove 90
minutes to attend the meeting.

Of the 43 arrests made in the summer of 1999, one Hispanic and two whites
were detained, Swisher County District Attorney Terry McEachern has said.

Dwight McDonald, a defense attorney who represented a black defendant
recently sentenced to 60 years in prison, told the audience that the
undercover officer, Tom Coleman, gave conflicting testimony on the witness
stand.

Many people arrested in the drug bust have been sentenced to lengthy prison
terms. Their sentences rested largely on the testimony of Coleman, who
didn't wear audio or video surveillance equipment and had no backup.

''If he can do it to these people, it could happen to me,'' McDonald said.

''It could happen to you.''

McDonald, who said he's been practicing law for seven years, said, ''This
deal has really shaken my faith in the criminal justice system.''

Members of a Tech group called Texas Tech University's Activist Group helped
organize Wednesday's meeting.

''One thing I think we can do is forget what color we are and fight the
system,'' one member of the Tech group said. ''The system is eroding quickly
and we're all about to go down with it.''

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from Amarillo
has promised to look into the drug bust.

A representative from the American Civil Liberties Union and reporters from
the Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press also attended Wednesday's
meeting. A reporter from the ABC television program 20/20 has attended at
least one of the drug trials and is expected to air her report soon.

Members of the Friends of Justice said they're not going to stop pressing
this issue until the convictions from the drug bust are overturned.

''We plan to overthrow this,'' a member of the group said. ''We're not going
to back down.''

The Tech activists plan to hold a meeting at J&B Coffee Co. and Espresso Bar
at 8 p.m. Tuesday.