Racism in the (good ole) USA I can see like a bullet right through the heart of the USA like an accident in slow motion raise the rent and move the dirt out of town
http://vancouver.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3472&group=webcast
http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=5780&group=webcast
http://sf.indymedia.org/display.php?id=102930
http://rockymountain.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=1254&group=webcast
http://cleveland.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=583
http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?group=webcast&page=0
http://twincities.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=2444&group=webcast
http://portland.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=2877&group=webcast
http://maine.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=428
http://dc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=10892&group=webcast
http://chicago.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3989&group=webcast
FRUSTRATION; INTOLERANCE; TERRORISM; and FEAR.
(Please, here is all the information for anyone to publish this anywhere.
Please help!)!
Kenn Dzaman
kennspace@hotmail.com
Space 2001 PO BOX 85503 SEA WA 98145-1503
From : "kenn dzaman"
Reply-To : kennspace@hotmail.com
To : sgonsalves@capecodonline.com, cjintel@juno.com, nbrodeur@seattletimes.com, leonardpitts@mindspring.com, ray@MichealMoore.com, editor@seattlepress.com, info@freespeechseattle.org, tracyjohnson@seattlepi.com, robertjamieson@seattlepi.com, dannyboy259@home.com, randerson@seattleweekly.com, gparrish@seattleweekly.com, publiceducation@aclu-wa.org, legal@aclu-wa.org, senator_murray@murray.senate.gov, maria@cantwell.senate.gov, jay.inslee@mail.house.gov, City.Action@ci.seattle.wa.us, lwvseattle@aol.com, mark.sidran@ci.seattle.wa.us, jim.compton@ci.seattle.wa.us, richard.conlin@ci.seattle.wa.us, jan.drago@ci.seattle.wa.us, nick.licata@ci.seattle.wa.us, richard.mciver@ci.seattle.wa.us, judy.nicastro@ci.seattle.wa.us, margaret.pageler@ci.seattle.wa.us, peter.steinbrueck@ci.seattle.wa.us, heidi.wills@ci.seattle.wa.us, ron.sims@metrokc.gov
CC : kennspace@hotmail.com
Subject :
CULT-URAL ROAD RAGE
Date : Fri, 10 Aug 2001 19:10:02 +0000
a little frustrated today, Kenn?
I put a sign on my front door this morning; and I want it to be as "public" as possible: (I am putting it on the big plywood sideboards of my truck also...it is good parked "advertising" that even travels around sometimes! (It's traveling away from Seattle now, so do not worry, you won't have to feel me around here for two long!!)!
The sign says:
([{ NO TRESSPASSING )]}
NO GUNS ALLOWED ON PROPERTY
POLICE INCLUDED
(ESPECIALLY THE SEATTLE POLICE)
DO NOT CALL 911 if
I am in need of help:
I DO NOT WANT THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S HELP
ANY LONGER
Kenn
From : "kenn dzaman"
To : sgonsalves@capecodonline.com, cjintel@juno.com, nbrodeur@seattletimes.com, leonardpitts@mindspring.com, ray@MichealMoore.com, editor@seattlepress.com, info@freespeechseattle.org, tracyjohnson@seattlepi.com, robertjamieson@seattlepi.com, dannyboy259@home.com, randerson@seattleweekly.com, gparrish@seattleweekly.com, publiceducation@aclu-wa.org, legal@aclu-wa.org, senator_murray@murray.senate.gov, maria@cantwell.senate.gov, jay.inslee@mail.house.gov, City.Action@ci.seattle.wa.us, lwvseattle@aol.com, mark.sidran@ci.seattle.wa.us, jim.compton@ci.seattle.wa.us, richard.conlin@ci.seattle.wa.us, jan.drago@ci.seattle.wa.us, nick.licata@ci.seattle.wa.us, richard.mciver@ci.seattle.wa.us, judy.nicastro@ci.seattle.wa.us, margaret.pageler@ci.seattle.wa.us, peter.steinbrueck@ci.seattle.wa.us, heidi.wills@ci.seattle.wa.us, ron.sims@metrokc.gov
CC : kennspace@hotmail.com
Date : Fri, 10 Aug 2001 20:29:54 +0000
THIS IS MY LAST EMAIL TO MOST OF YOU;
THANK YOUR CREATOR OF FEELING, --
I DO!
Kenn Dzaman
Racism in the (good ole) USA
I can see like a bullet
right through the heart
of the USA
like an accident in slow motion
raise the rent
and move the dirt out of town
-----Original Message-----
From: kenn dzaman [mailto:kennspace@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 10:31 AM
To: joelconnelly@seattlepi.com; mcarter@seattletimes.com;
RobertJamieson@seattlepi.com; sgonsalves@capecodonline.com;
cjintel@juno.com; nbrodeur@seattletimes.com;
leonardpitts@mindspring.com; editor@seattlepress.com;
info@freespeechseattle.org; tracyjohnson@seattlepi.com >Cc: kennspace@hotmail.com Subject: Mr. Connelly - last email; - you are not even worth
writing..
From: "kenn dzaman"
sgonsalves@capecodonline.com, cjintel@juno.com,
nbrodeur@seattletimes.com,
leonardpitts@mindspring.com, editor@seattlepress.com,
info@freespeechseattle.org, tracyjohnson@seattlepi.com > >CC: kennspace@hotmail.com > >
Subject: Fwd: Racism and the Responsibility of the Local
Police
Dear Mr. Carter,
Your article incenses me.
I have worked on this case for a month.
The amount of intolerance I have been shown in doing this -
has been absolutely ridiculous.
You can report whatever you want in your paper, you are a
"reporter"; well I tell you what,,, you make some phone calls,
and after you actually have some experience in trying to
charge police with crimes, please,
get back to me with some true and honest reporting of
experience.
Not what someone else, for the police department; is telling
you.
Kenn Dzaman
From : Mike Carter
To : 'kennspace@hotmail.com'"
Subject : RE:
Date : Fri, 10 Aug 2001 11:17:04 -0700
Received: by exchconn.seatimes.com with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19)id
From mcarter@seattletimes.com Fri, 10 Aug 2001 11:20:24 -0700
You keep saying "this case." I wrote about the shooting in
bellevue today
before yesterday, not the Seattle PD's shooting errors. And I
know Joel Connelly only in passing. He works for the P-I, not the Times.
-----Original Message-----
From: kenn dzaman [mailto:kennspace@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 11:12 AM
To: mcarter@seattletimes.com; sgonsalves@capecodonline.com;
cjintel@juno.com; nbrodeur@seattletimes.com;
leonardpitts@mindspring.com; ray@MichealMoore.com;
editor@seattlepress.com; info@freespeechseattle.org;
tracyjohnson@seattlepi.com; robertjamieson@seattlepi.com;
dannyboy259@home.com; randerson@seattleweekly.com;
gparrish@seattleweekly.com; publiceducation@aclu-wa.org;
legal@aclu-wa.org; senator_murray@murray.senate.gov;
maria@cantwell.senate.gov; jay.inslee@mail.house.gov;
City.Action@ci.seattle.wa.us; lwvseattle@aol.com;
mark.sidran@ci.seattle.wa.us; jim.compton@ci.seattle.wa.us;
richard.conlin@ci.seattle.wa.us; jan.drago@ci.seattle.wa.us;
nick.licata@ci.seattle.wa.us; richard.mciver@ci.seattle.wa.us;
judy.nicastro@ci.seattle.wa.us;
margaret.pageler@ci.seattle.wa.us;
peter.steinbrueck@ci.seattle.wa.us;
heidi.wills@ci.seattle.wa.us;
ron.sims@metrokc.gov Cc: kennspace@hotmail.com Subject:
Dear Mr Carter,
Thank you for your reply.
I am very mad.
I am mad that the Seattle police department shot 20 to 39 shots
at each other Seattle police officers due to an internal error that
almost killed people, and it could have killed me.
If you feel the Seattle police knew what they were doing when
they shot these bullets at each other,
that is even scarier than me being mad.
Kenn
(As far as Mr. Connelly goes, between us, I feel he is dweeb,
like my father, he does not listen to anyone. Funny, how I hate that so
much, but I do...have the same tendency!!!!(dweeb is as dweeb does)..
I am mad, because as I work on this case, I feel very much
racism (intolerance).
Let me repeat that;
I have spent many hours working on understanding what has
happened in this case; and in even trying to figure that out, being the naive
little white boy I am; I am appalled at the racism so predominately displayed
by the Seattle government.
I feel ill.
Thanks for communicating!
"Exposure fosters racial understanding"
(if people will witness) please read this one...
From : Anthony Espinosa
To : "'kennspace@hotmail.com'"
Subject : About your recent web ad...(also print)
Date : Fri, 10 Aug 2001 07:37:50 -0700
Thank you for your order!! Your ad has been processed and will
be reviewed for acceptability and credit status prior to appearing in The
Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and on NWclassifieds. If your ad
requires prepayment prior to publishing, you will be contacted by a
customer service representative.
Your order number is 924939. The ad is scheduled to print
starting 08/12/2001, for 7 days, ending 08/18/2001, printing in
classification 102-Announcements. The price of the ad is 6.25 for 14 lines.
The Seattle Times, representing the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
For corrections or cancellations call your Ad Specialist above
or call: 206-624-7355 or 1-888-624-7355 (statewide toll-free). Our
Business hours are Monday through Thursday: 7am-7pm, Friday: 6:30am-7pm, Saturday:
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reaches 824,000 daily readers and more than 1 million on Sunday. You may
visit our websites at: www.seattletimes.com, www.NWclassifieds.com and
www.NWsource.com. Be sure to look in The Seattle Times and P-I
during the month of August for these special sections:
August 30 -- Pro Football Preview (Times)
August 31 -- College Football Preview (Times)
To subscribe call 206/464-2121 or 1-800/542-0820, or visit us
online at http://gateway2.seattletimes.nwsource.com/circulation/subscribe.html
Racism in Seattle:
(Too best research the Seattle police shooting 39(?) shots at each other; Go to the Seattle Post Intelligencer and the Seattle Times web sites and search: "Zachary Davis" (The Seattle police department "mascot" that stole the Seattle police car for patrols and repeated it for weeks (or longer??)? Did the Seattle Police department think they were hiding something from the residents of Seattle, or were they trying to cover and hide an internal error, or did the Seattle police department not feel at risk, until they almost killed each other?)
SEATTLE TIMES
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Results for search of "zachary davis"
Your search found 10 records. Matches 1 through 10.
Local News: Friday, July 13, 2001
Fake officer safety risk; stays in jail
King County prosecutors have filed charges of taking a motor vehicle without permission and eluding police, both felonies, against Zachary Davis, 18, the son of a slain Seattle police officer.
Editorials & Opinion: Friday, July 13, 2001
Letters to the editor
A sampling of readers' letters, faxes and e-mail.
Local News: Thursday, July 12, 2001
Timeline
Davis is arrested after returning the stolen patrol car to the North Precinct. He is wearing parts of a police uniform, including a bullet-proof vest. ...
Local News: Thursday, July 12, 2001
Thief slipped onto I-5, out of cops' sight
If it wasn't so potentially deadly, Tuesday's police crash and shootout by cops chasing a stolen patrol car would sound like an overused slapstick-comedy routine: Two guys throw punches at a third, but he ducks just in time for the flying fists to hit the wrong jaws.
Local News: Wednesday, July 11, 2001
Mistaken identity: Cops fire at cops
The 18-year-old son of a slain Seattle policeman was in jail yesterday and three patrolmen were placed on desk duty after the teen stole a police car and then fled from officers who ended up mistaking each other for the suspect, crashing their cars and firing more than 20 bullets at each other.
Local News: Wednesday, July 11, 2001
Officers helped, trusted son of slain colleague
Seattle police Lt. Roy Wedlund was jangled awake early yesterday morning by the kind of phone call any parent would dread. At first, the North Precinct commander didn't understand the officer's hurried voice on the other end of the line.
Local News: Tuesday, July 10, 2001
Officers chasing stolen police car exchange gunfire - with each other
Seattle police officers, mistaking one another for the person who had stolen a police car, fired more than 20 shots at each other in North Seattle early today.
Dear CLEAR (NW Justice) - (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral Service),
(1-888-201-1014) (webmaster@nwjustice.org) (questions@wsba.org)
Dear Mothers Against Violence In America,
(206-323-2303) (mavia@aol.com)
Dear American Civil Liberties Union,
(206-624-2180) (legislative@aclu-wa.org, publiceducation@aclu-wa.org, legislative@aclu-wa.org)
(I am also calling the King county lawyer referral service.).
(206-623-2551)
Please help me to find a good attorney.
The case I am trying to press is explained in the following email.
I will be calling the numbers above in the next 24 hours to (hopefully) discuss this case with someone in your office. (All the phone calls I have been making are getting hard, I would really like to set up an appointment and sit in an attorney's office, and discuss this (with someone in person). Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kenn Dzaman
>From: "kenn dzaman"
>Reply-To: kennspace@hotmail.com
>To: sgonsalves@capecodonline.com, cjintel@juno.com, nbrodeur@seattletimes.com, leonardpitts@mindspring.com, ray@MichealMoore.com, editor@seattlepress.com, info@freespeechseattle.org, tracyjohnson@seattlepi.com, robertjamieson@seattlepi.com, dannyboy259@home.com, randerson@seattleweekly.com, gparrish@seattleweekly.com, publiceducation@aclu-wa.org, legal@aclu-wa.org, senator_murray@murray.senate.gov, maria@cantwell.senate.gov, jay.inslee@mail.house.gov, City.Action@ci.seattle.wa.us, lwvseattle@aol.com, mark.sidran@ci.seattle.wa.us, jim.compton@ci.seattle.wa.us, richard.conlin@ci.seattle.wa.us, jan.drago@ci.seattle.wa.us, nick.licata@ci.seattle.wa.us, richard.mciver@ci.seattle.wa.us, judy.nicastro@ci.seattle.wa.us, margaret.pageler@ci.seattle.wa.us, peter.steinbrueck@ci.seattle.wa.us, heidi.wills@ci.seattle.wa.us, ron.sims@metrokc.gov
>CC: kennspace@hotmail.com
>Subject: Intolerance in Seattle, racism in the Seattle Police Department.
>Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2001 19:56:18 +0000
>
>Dear Concerned Human Being, August 9th, 2001
>
>I have now consulted with four attorney's in Seattle, and have not found one who can handle this case at this time.
>After all the emails I have sent out in the last month, all the phone calls I have made, - I have gotten such very little response;
>
>I am feeling,,,
>
>my fingers are not even warmed up yet!
>
>(I have many calls out, and I will keep making them.).
>Kenn
>
>
>
>Dear Concerned Human Being,
>
>Where is the - "community and public" responsibility??
>
>INTOLERANCE: In Seattle.
>
>(It is what I felt all day today as I tried to find out what to do about the Seattle police being charged with breaking the law..).
>
>How easy it is to have "others" arrested and put in jail, when "others" break laws. I am finding, - when the Seattle police break laws, (from my experience so far), it doesn't sound like the Seattle police are put in jail or charged with crimes (they have committed on duty). (And there is nowhere to "realistically" report it, without personally filing suit against the police, and having personal evidence against them...What about "community" evidence??? Is it not what Seattle police officers use in arresting "suspects"??? (At least I feel it is the way it is "supposed" to be,, -- the laws passed by the community, suspects may have broken them, so they are arrested??? (As long as the witnesses don't remain silent).....).
>
>I am also feeling that I am being presented with the -"cultural"- feeling, that taking police to court for breaking laws; is somehow, - a "cultural taboo" and should not be discussed.
>I am feeling more and more intolerance towards me, the closer I get to "charging" and "pressing" this case and filing these charges against the Seattle police department; - In my personal - and public life, - people only want me to stop.
>
>I am wondering if I am just crazy at this point, and maybe all I need to do is move to Canada, and I will be happier. After all, I am Canadian and moved here in 1968 with my American father, and I have always felt Canada is more civil. (Towards drugs and medicine, - and the laws about how handguns are treated in human civilization..,, Maybe I have over-stayed my welcome in the USA?.?.. I should just listen to the people and my family - who have told me: "Just go to Canada and shut up";, but somehow, I just do not feel that is the right decision.)...
>
>
>Sincerely,
>Kenn Dzaman
>
>
>From : "kenn dzaman"
>To : sgonsalves@capecodonline.com, cjintel@juno.com, nbrodeur@seattletimes.com, leonardpitts@mindspring.com, ray@MichealMoore.com, editor@seattlepress.com, info@freespeechseattle.org, tracyjohnson@seattlepi.com, robertjamieson@seattlepi.com
>CC : kennspace@hotmail.com, colorlines@arc.org, counterpunch@counterpunch.org, indypress@indypress.org, Ipadirector@indypress.org, Paper@indypress.org, Members@indypress.org, Diversity@indypress.org, Library@indypress.org, Admin@indypress.org, Ipany@indypress.org, Techassist@indypress.org, Tracie@bigtoppubs.com, Bigtopsc@surfnetusa.com, Lauren@bigtoppubs.com, Kathleen@bigtoppubs.com, Ln@bigtoppubs.com, ets@scn.org, letters@denver-rmn.com, feedback@thewire.ap.org
>Subject : Local Police and The CHARGE of Racism.
>Date : Wed, 08 Aug 2001 22:44:00 +0000
>
>Dear Sean Gonsalves, Carl Jeffers, Nicole Brodeur, and Leonard
>Pitts Jr.,
>
>Dear Mr. Carl Jeffers, August 8th, 2001
>
>I have consulted with two attorneys in Seattle (who have told me
>to get a good attorney); on this case, and who are too busy too
>handle it.
>(I have calls into others...)..
>I need to hire a good attorney to help me with the filing of
>charges against the Seattle police department. (Explained in
>detail in this email - please try to pull out the good
>information out of my ranting. I need help so I can slow down -
>so I can be better understood.
>If you could give me a recommendation or refferal of an attorney
>-- I would really appreciate it. I will keep calling other
>attorney's, but I need help. I do not have much experience in
>law, except in having guns pointed at my head and arrested for
>marijuana.
>
>Dear American Prospect,
>ColorLines,
>CounterPunch,
>ETS!,
>Seattle Press Editor,
>and others interested in the Seattle police -: law and racism,
>in the United States,
>
>
>I called the King county prosecutors office today of Norm
>Melang, and they could not help me except to give me other
>numbers to call. (206-296-9000)
>I called the Seattle city attorneys office of Mark Sidran, and I
>was given other numbers to call. (206-684-8200)
>I called the Seattle city council (206-684-8888) and I talked
>with the receptionist who forwarded me to council-member Peter
>Steinbrueck's office (206-684-8804); Who forwarded me to
>council-member Jim Compton's office (206-684-8802); Who
>forwarded me to the Seattle police departments internal
>investigation division.
>I made the mistake of calling the Seattle police; They did not
>want to listen to me at all, and reassured me that the Seattle
>police department is looking into Seattle police officers trying
>to mistakenly kill each other - with their firearms review board
>(I guess to figure out how -not- to miss next time, and waste so
>many bullets..??..).(206-684-8797).. .
>
>The Seattle police internal investigation unit forwarded me to
>their media department;; And that lady officer I talked to got
>rather mad at me that I would even think that the Seattle police
>had broken laws.
>I am not sure who I will call tomorrow, but I will be on the
>phone again...
>
>
>Please help stop this so obvious racism in the enforcement of
>our laws in Seattle Washington.
>
>Sincerely,
>Kenneth G. Dzaman
>
>Local Police-Responsibility and the CHARGE of Racism
>Who is responsible for this racism?
>I feel it is the police.
>I feel if the Seattle police (or the Renton police), feel they
>are above reproach or the law, they are wrong.
>(Dead wrong - with drugged execution... - (I am glad the Seattle
>police, - are not always that good of marksman; of course, they
>probably weren't looking when they fired these 20 to 80 bullets
>at each other, --and were possibly firing from behind their cars -
>or something,,,,,I mean; -- I don't know what kind of
>identification process, or fear, or threat, the Seattle police
>use in drawing their weapons and shooting; - But they were
>shooting at fellow Seattle police officers, - so something tells
>me; It isn't working... .).
>
>
>
>[Opinion]
>Letters to the Editor
>Seattle Post Intelligencer
>Wednesday, August 8, 2001
>
>http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/34309_ltrs8.shtml RENTON
>
>Officers' bad behavior takes city backward
>
>It was absolutely heart-wrenching and disgusting to hear on the
>news and read in the newspapers about inhumane treatment of the
>elderly gentleman, Calvin Brown, and his friend, Rose Anne
>Jacobs, by the white Renton police officers. The citizens of
>Renton, as well as elsewhere, should be outraged.
>
>The African American couple said at no time did the officers ask
>questions or offer an explanation for their actions, nor did
>they have the decency to apologize. Nothing reported in the
>media even hinted that this couple resisted or refused to comply
>with an order.
>
>Everywhere I look in this city, I see the efforts and progress
>being made to give Renton a fresh new look and keep it ahead of
>the curve. Since it takes only a few bad apples to spoil the
>barrel, the four officers need to be removed from the mix before
>they ruin the beauty and integrity of the city.
>
>Beatrice Clark
>Renton
>
>
>
>
>
>MEDICAL MARIJUANA
>
>Where's the harm in relieving pain?
>In this tale of medical marijuana, patients, doctors, MS,
>nausea, police, cancer, neighborhood watchdog groups,
>spinal-cord injuries, prosecutors, glaucoma, wheelchairs, AIDS,
>etc., something bothers me.
>
>Where is the harm?
>
>Green Cross Co-op has made a valiant effort for 10 years to help
>ease the suffering of some folks in serious pain. It appears to
>have been done in a safe and responsible manner.
>
>Seattle police have recently made their own valiant effort to
>protect and to serve by threatening prosecution with a
>cease-and-desist order.
>
>Who's harming whom?
>
>Ric Smith
>Shoreline
>DEATH PENALTY
>
>Capital punishment perpetuates violence
>On Aug. 28 at 3 a.m., most of us will be sound asleep while
>James Elledge is scheduled to be executed at the Walla Walla
>State Penitentiary. Intimate participants in the execution will
>be employees of the prison system. I cannot even begin to
>imagine what it must be like for them to go to work that day. I
>think I would call in sick.
>
>Having worked for more than 15 years as an advocate for
>survivors of domestic and sexual violence and hearing their
>horrific stories, compassion for offenders does not come easy
>for me. However, I still believe if we continue to execute human
>beings, we are perpetuating violence in our society and asking
>individual human beings like those who work in the prison system
>to participate in an act that must crush the soul to its very
>core. I agree with Henry Schwarzchild, former member of the
>board of directors of the National Coalition to Abolish the
>Death Penalty, who said, "We must refuse as citizens to be made
>into willing co-conspirators with a violent crime."
>
>Sandi Thompson-Royer
>Spokane
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 12:00 a.m. Pacific
>
>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/134326988_carl08.html Guest columnist
>Racial insensitivity carries a high price
>
>By Carl Jeffers
>Special to The Times
>One year ago in Renton, a 70-year-old black man and his
>56-year-old female companion were pulled over by four white
>police officers, ordered out of their car at gunpoint,
>handcuffed and placed face down on the pavement. Police assert
>they were looking for "suspects in a drive-by shooting." The
>only problem is that the reports already received by the police
>indicated the suspects were "black teens driving a little sports
>car." But what we had here were two elderly citizens driving a
>large, four-door Buick!
>
>The couple wanted an apology from the city of Renton and its
>police department and public officials. In good faith, they
>waited a year before taking any other action. We have now
>learned that during the interim, Renton City Attorney Larry
>Warren essentially drew a line in the sand, defending the police
>action as totally justified as part of an effort to "try to
>catch dangerous drive-by shooters." Consequently, he has refused
>to issue an official apology, or for that matter recommend that
>the city's mayor issue one. In addition, no apology has been
>forthcoming from the police department itself.
>
>Now, the couple has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of
>Renton and at least four police officers for charges including
>civil-rights violations, assault and false arrest. At the heart
>of this entire incident is the specter of racial profiling at
>its most insidious level.
>
>I am appalled by this incident and the failure of the police and
>the city to at least issue an apology once it was clear that a
>mistake had been made. I don't know whether in fact the couple
>would not have filed suit if an apology had been issued, but
>what I am sure of is that regardless, an apology should have
>been issued.
>
>I don't have to be shy about criticizing police officers and
>city attorneys when I think they are wrong or have engaged in
>racial profiling and insensitivity. I can be that outspoken
>because I often stand alone in my criticism of African-American
>leaders when I feel they go too far or lack justification in
>immediately charging racial profiling or racism in so many cases
>involving the police. Indeed, I have often tried to highlight
>how many police officers really do try to enforce the law fairly
>and judiciously regardless of who the people are they are
>interacting with, and we need to be more mindful of that.
>
>But in this situation, I find no loopholes to justify the manner
>in which this incident has developed. What's more, this incident
>only discourages and frustrates those of us who seek to always
>bring a sense of reason and calm to our approach to race and
>other topical issues.
>
>In my judgment, this incident may or may not be all about racial
>profiling. Sometimes, good old-fashioned plain stupidity can be
>the greater culprit. I feel poor training and lack of proper
>sensitivity training is often more significant than issues of
>race and prejudice in explaining why so many distressing
>incidents of this type take place between the minority community
>and the police.
>
>But stupidity clearly has played a major role here, and I am
>upset about that. I can tell you quite emphatically that if I
>heard that my mother and father were treated to this
>insufferable conduct, I would have been furious, and I would not
>have waited a year to take action.
>
>The reports clearly indicated that the perpetrators were young
>teens in a "little sports car." With a couple in their 50s and
>70s, the "young teens" issue speaks for itself. And even though
>Buick might like us to think so, they don't make large,
>four-door models that are confused with "little sports cars." At
>least for that, an apology should have been issued.
>
>But even if this isn't outright racial profiling, it is at least
>racial insensitivity, and here's why. Everyone reading this
>knows as well as I do that if there were clear reports of a
>drive-by shooting involving young teens, and the suspects were
>identified as being "white," no policeman in America would have
>pulled over a 70-year-old white man and a 56-year-old white
>woman and handcuffed them as "suspects" in the alleged crime ?
>for consumer fraud, an insurance scam, or illegal Bingo ...
>maybe ... but for a drive-by shooting ... Never! And it should
>never happen to an African-American couple under these
>circumstances either.
>
>The city attorney of Renton is quoted as saying this incident is
>not even "anywhere in the realm of racial profiling." What this
>incident is not "anywhere in the realm of" is the appropriate
>manner in which it should have been handled, both at the time of
>the incident itself as well as in the post-incident activity,
>continuing for almost a year afterwards.
>
>The city attorney should have issued a formal apology, not
>because the police were or were not justified in their actions ?
>I'll give him the benefit of the doubt (of which there is a
>great deal) on that ? but because no matter what the
>justification was, the facts proved the officers made a mistake,
>and we apologize for mistakes. Can't we have some common sense
>on all sides of these types of issues?
>
>City Attorney Warren has drawn his line in the sand and, I would
>assume with the mayor's concurrence, has apparently refused to
>apologize. Fine. He's wrong. And he and the city of Renton may
>have consequences and a price to pay for that refusal. I'll
>leave that to the adjudication process to determine as the
>lawsuits go forward.
>
>But as the Renton city attorney, and therefore as a leader and
>representative of that city ? and as part of the leadership of
>the entire Seattle community, a community walking a tightrope in
>the area of race relations ? Warren and the leadership he
>represents have failed miserably. For that failure, all of the
>people of Seattle continue to pay too high a price.
>
>Carl Jeffers is president of Intel Marketing Associates and CJS
>InfoConsulting, franchise consulting and information-services
>firms. Contact him at cjintel@juno.com.
>
>Copyright