Pubdate: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 Copyright: 1999 Journal Register Company Source: Torrington Register Citizen Contact: http://www.ctcentral.com/ Author: Bob Eaton WAS RACE A FACTOR IN EL-AMIN'S ARREST? A few thoughts on the recent arrest of Khalid El-Amin. If he was white and ran a light in West Hartford, does anyone think he would have been subjected to a pat down search? Even with national stardom there is no escaping DWB (driving while black). The drug war has always had it's racist aspects. It started with Opium dens being prohibited in San Francisco as far back as 1875. At the time the target was Chinese immigrants. It will be interesting to see if the Hartford police keep the car and sell it. The way forfeiture laws are written this can happen even if he is never convicted. Marijuana is a Schedule I drug. That puts it in the Federal Government's category of worst possible drugs. Lets see, you can be one of the best college athletes in the country even if you use a drug in the worst category. What is our government trying to tell us here? Drugs illegal or legal effect people differently. This country badly needs some honest dialog on drug issues. Bob Eaton Winsted - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck