POVERTY AND DRUGS

Re the Saturday Speakup letter, Miami Police are committed to rooting out
illegal drugs:

Drug arrests aren't solving anything. Poverty, lack of education, lack of
treatment for those who wish to get help and prohibition fuel the war on drugs.

The chief states that "fewer drugs equal less crime." Let me enlighten the
chief: Less poverty equals less crime. Unfortunately, Chief Martinez has no
control of the economic status of Overtown.

Martinez won't be fired by the residents of Overtown since they are
predominantly black. Black males are 10 times more likely (national
average) than whites to end up in prison and lose their privilege to vote.
The reality is that prohibition criminalizes cultures that are poor and
silences them in the political arena.

I hope that all blacks turn out to vote for Daryl Jones, Democratic
gubernatorial candidate. He is the only candidate who opposes putting
first- and second-time offenders in prison for possession. He supports use
of medical marijuana.

Anthony Lorenzo

Melbourne