Pubdate: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL) Copyright: 2004 The Pensacola News Journal Contact: http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675 Author: Rodney T. Burell Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/operation+sandshaker COLOR AND CLASS Why is it that the people who were implicated and arrested in Operation Sandshaker all received their pictures in the paper as mug shots, addresses listed, employment listed, vehicles impounded listed, yet the latest cocaine arrests reported Friday, Jan. 23, in the News Journal did not provide the public with the same information? Is this equitable reporting or is this because the News Journal sees Operation Sandshaker arrests as being more "worthy" of exploitation because of the color, employment, income, etc., of the implicated persons? Many people feel that this type of reporting is biased and negative toward a certain element of our community. The latest cocaine arrests were persons who had much more of a negative impact upon the community in respects toward drug distribution and usage. These people were making crack cocaine, selling it and had much more money and cocaine involved than the Sandshaker Operation. So where are all their pictures, addresses, jobs, employers, family members? Let's be equal here, or is it a matter of color and class? - - Rodney T. Burell Pensacola - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin