Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jul 2001
Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Amarillo Globe-News
Contact:  http://amarillonet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13
Author: Greg Cunningham

RALLY COMMEMORATES ARRESTS

Participants From Tulia, Across Country

TULIA - About 250 people showed up at a rally in Tulia on Sunday to 
commemorate the two-year anniversary of the controversial arrests of 46 
people following an undercover investigation.

The program, dubbed the "Never Again Rally," featured entertainment by 
local artists and speeches by nearly two dozen prominent figures in drug 
policy reform and social justice issues.

The crowd at Tulia's Conner Park was split evenly between local folks and 
participants from across the state and country.

Billy Wafer, who was arrested in the drug sting, cleared and later filed a 
civil lawsuit, said it was encouraging to see the number of people from 
outside Tulia who showed up to lend support.

"My heart is just racing," Wafer said as he surveyed the crowd. "It's 
amazing. We knew we had the support of people all across the country, but 
it's just amazing to actually see it. To see all these faces out here 
supporting us. It's amazing."

The high number of people expected at the park and the tension from the 
controversy over the Tulia arrest put local law enforcement on alert.

A pair of Tulia police officers videotaped the rally from patrol cars while 
other officers drove around the park periodically. Swisher County Sheriff's 
deputies and Department of Public Safety troopers had a sizable presence as 
well.

Event organizer Alan Bean of Tulia and Tulia Police Department Lt. Joe Bill 
Dempsey said the law enforcement presence was appropriate given the 
circumstances.

"We're going to be out here because we don't want anything to get out of 
hand," Dempsey said. "We don't expect any problems and we're going to be as 
accommodating as possible, but we're going to be prepared."

The rally was peaceful, with no incidents reported as of press time.

The event kicked off with a "Freedom Ride" from Austin with two buses 
carrying supporters to a vigil outside the Formby and Wheeler Units in 
Plainview, where participants protested the number of nonviolent offenders 
in the prisons.

The vigil became a little tense as Assistant Warden Greg Franklin 
confronted the protesters, demanding that the protesters move to another 
area and stop videotaping the facility.

Kevin Zeese, president of Common Sense for Drug Policy Reform, downplayed 
the incident and instead chose to focus on the message of the vigil.

"We simply had a disagreement, and I think it was a fairly cordial one," 
Zeese said. "We wanted to get the message out to all the nonviolent drug 
offenders in there that someone is taking up their cause. I think we were 
successful in that."

The rally proper kicked off at 6 p.m. in Tulia with singing by children 
whose parents were arrested in the drug sting.

A succession of speakers then took the stage to speak out against the drug 
war. The speakers' common theme was its inherently racist nature, as well 
as to support the 46 people arrested in the drug sting.

"We're here principally to show solidarity with the people in Tulia who've 
had the bravery to stand up in the face of discrimination," said Will 
Harrell, executive director of the Texas chapter of the American Civil 
Liberties Union. "But we're also here to get out the larger message, which 
is that our current drug policy is a failure and must be changed."

The rally was scheduled to continue through midnight, when participants 
were to march to the Swisher County courthouse for a candlelight vigil.

Bean said he was happy with the turnout and would consider the event a 
success if people came away understanding the human cost of arrests like 
those in Tulia.

"I want people to go home with the knowledge that prisoners are people with 
families, children, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters," Bean said. "I 
want them to understand the consequences of locking up people for so long 
for nothing but drug offenses."

(SIDEBAR)

TIMELINE

Jan. 21, 1998 - Tom Coleman hired by Swisher County Sheriff Larry Stewart 
to work undercover.

March 29, 1998 - Coleman logs his first drug buy.

May 6, 1998 - Coleman charged with abuse of official capacity and theft in 
Cochran County.

Aug. 17, 1998 - Charge against Coleman dropped after restitution made.

July 23, 1999 - First arrests in the drug sting after grand jury hands up 
132 indictments for 46 people.

Dec. 15, 1999 - First trial concludes.

Sept. 7, 2000 - Last trial concludes.

Sept. 28, 2000 - First civil suit filed in federal court.

Oct. 13, 2000 - Complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice seeking 
civil rights investigation.

Feb. 22 - Second lawsuit filed.

(PHOTOGRAPH CAPTION)

Differing Opinions: Greg Franklin, assistant prison warden at Formby Unit 
Wheeler, from left, Kevin Zeese, president of Common Sense for Drug Policy 
of Washington, D.C., and Scott Henson of the American Civil Liberties Union 
accountability project of Austin give viewpoints on the right to protest 
and videotape outside the prison in Plainview. (Photo by Henry Bargas)
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