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

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