Politics: The Fine Print
As mentioned elsewhere, the long nightmare of many of the Tulia defendants has finally ended with their convictions tossed. But the fine print is the most appalling. Remember, many of these people have been in jail because juries, judges and whoever gives the "Texas Lawman of the Year" award believed one racist (whose so-called drug busts didn't produce any drugs, guns or money) over the assertions of mostly poor black people in a small town.
Let me be the first to scream: "DON'T TAKE THAT DEAL!! SUE THE BASTARDS BLIND!!" You can be sure that Swisher county, its sheriff and its D.A. were fully aware of the undercover racist's work. Read some of Bob Herbert's columns which helped to raise the Tulia case on the national agenda. This is sadly the way business gets done in some parts of the South to this day. Situations like this are the reason that Americans still hold the South in such low regard at times. And each time a transplanted Southerner says to a Yankee that people have the wrong idea about the South, and that there isn't more or less racism there than anywhere else, it is ongoing, soul-crushing situations like the one in Tulia that prove them a little bit wrong. There is still racism all over the United States. But when that racism is institutionalized, and tolerated at the highest levels of government, then it is more dangerous, and more frightening, than any other.
As mentioned elsewhere, the long nightmare of many of the Tulia defendants has finally ended with their convictions tossed. But the fine print is the most appalling. Remember, many of these people have been in jail because juries, judges and whoever gives the "Texas Lawman of the Year" award believed one racist (whose so-called drug busts didn't produce any drugs, guns or money) over the assertions of mostly poor black people in a small town.
Lawyers close to the case said that as part of today's agreement, Swisher County Commissioners Court would pay the defense $250,000, to be split among the defendants according to the amount of time spent incarcerated. In return, the defense would agree not to sue Swisher County, its sheriff or district attorney for civil rights damages.
Let me be the first to scream: "DON'T TAKE THAT DEAL!! SUE THE BASTARDS BLIND!!" You can be sure that Swisher county, its sheriff and its D.A. were fully aware of the undercover racist's work. Read some of Bob Herbert's columns which helped to raise the Tulia case on the national agenda. This is sadly the way business gets done in some parts of the South to this day. Situations like this are the reason that Americans still hold the South in such low regard at times. And each time a transplanted Southerner says to a Yankee that people have the wrong idea about the South, and that there isn't more or less racism there than anywhere else, it is ongoing, soul-crushing situations like the one in Tulia that prove them a little bit wrong. There is still racism all over the United States. But when that racism is institutionalized, and tolerated at the highest levels of government, then it is more dangerous, and more frightening, than any other.
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