A Tulia parent plans to file a lawsuit against Tulia ISD to prevent his son from being tested for drugs. Alan Bean, parent of a Tulia High School sophomore, and a leader in the Friends of Justice organization, made the decision after the board refused to exempt his son from testing. Last year, District Judge Mary Lou Robinson in Amarillo ruled against the district, saying that its random drug-testing program for students involved in extracurricular activities is a violation of the Fourth Amendment. [continues 189 words]
A local reform group is planning a rally Sunday marking the second anniversary of a drug raid in Tulia that netted half the town's black male population. "The Friends of Justice," a Tulia-based group that sprang up in defense of several defendants in the raid, claims the undercover agent's court testimony was uncorroborated and manufactured. Many of those convicted received long prison terms for small amounts of cocaine. Their protests have prompted national attention directed at Tulia, including a segment on "20/20 Downtown" and articles in national newspapers. [continues 135 words]
