Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 April 1993 — Page 2

• Hk: INUIANAPULIS HECUHUhH

SATURDAY.

i

I'm i 1m >i \ \ \ i’< >j is

Innocent who flee scene viewed as guilty

EDITORIAtS

Kill black people; win valuable prizes The recent mling by a Texas jury that sentenced a white man who killed a black man in a drive-by shooting to serve what amounts to a slap on the wrist—10 years on probation without any time in jail — leads us to wonder what happens next: an announcement to kill Mack people and win valuable prizes? In the same America that has never seen a white person receive the death penalty for killing a black person, tragically, so this recent travesty of justice in Texas has set a new standard for the hypocrisy of the American judicial system. Blacks all across our country have to wonder what is going to happen as a result of this niling? For many black people in America, die impression of a judicial system that favors whites over blacks is an issue often W- discussed by, with many examples to suppon the concerns expressed. The disparity between the outcomes of the William Kennedy Smith and Mike Tyson rape trials are just one example of a : system that seems to be beyond repair when it comes to being £ fair. £ Nothing, however, compares to the Texas jury’s decision £ not to punish a murderer, apparently simply because of the £ color of his skin. How can you not punish a person who has murdered someone? The jury later said they did not fully understand die instructions. This feeble excuse has been used by white jurors in Simi Valley, Calif., following the verdict of the four officers accused of beating motorist Rodney King, and it was used here in Indianapolis in the case involving Tyson. Now the phenomenon of poor jury instruction has found its way to Texas, where once again, the excuse of ignorance will create a climate of racial hatred and division in America — while this particular murderer is allowed to go free. The shrinking of the global village, sharing the word Last week, many of the media operations here in Indianapolis served as hosts toagroup of visiting journalists from Africa. ^ The group was as diverse as the African continent itself, with reporters representing countries such as Congo, Sudan, r Burundi, Mauritania, Gabon and South Africa, just to name a .few. > ~ l We here at The Recorder were fortunate enough to host - members of die group on two different occasions. i Many of the visiting journalists admitted they were fascinated by what they saw when it came to die technology employed by American news operations—-technology which they say could help them improve the quality of life of the people they have the responsibility of gathering information for. But gaining access to what some may describe as a technology revolution has not been easy for African journalists, especially since die cost of purchasing equipment is so high. Many used the opportunity ofthetrqito purchase equipment for their news operations, equipment which in Africa would be 10 times as mudi. Those journalists are to be commended. One journalist from Somalia was inquisitive and visited our publication on both days, with many of her questions dealing with how we as a publication get news to the members of the black community. What Is disappointing is to think about what could have p happened in a war-tom country such as her native Somalia had P the United Stales supplied the Somalis with a technology that ^ would have educated all the people instead of arming them, if we are to believe “the pen is mightier than the sword” and “with knowledge comes power,” then obviously, there has been an extreme effort to keep the people of Africa uninformed and powerless. In a shrinking global village, everyone should have a chance to share technology that allows them to spread the word to those who need to hear it, regardless of where they live.

INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER DIRECTORY

...Karan RuaaaM ErtcMuMn louita Handtrton SundraTaaa CryaaMMm JaAmHMar

PHONF (317' 924-5143

Partn (Editors note: The names in the following story have been changed for protection. The writer of this column Is not an attorney. Any legal questions yon have regarding legal procedure in similar incidents should be directed to a practicing attorney.) At times like this, I find it often helps to sit down with a hot cup of coffee and listen to soft music. There were several issues involved. IfGomez actually shot Warner, he had an airtight selfdefense case. In addition, none of the witnesses for Gomez claim to have been looking at Gomez when the shot(s) was heard. On the other side, the prosecution had several witnesses that claimed to have seen Gomez shoot Warner. I decided the best course of action was to investigate Warner. I drove over to the neighborhood where Warner was known to hang out I got out of my

Warner was a member of the

24th Street Omg. I was not surprised to find oulw witnesses for

the prosecution were loo. I felt it was time to go back and

have another chat wWi Gomez. It told Gomez whatlhad discovered.

MlfipEZ INDIANAPOLIS &OORDCIL

/

HOLD IT/ WHERE'S MV REAL PARTNER, YOU

KNOW WE DON'T DO THESE..., /

van and, as 1 approached the comer, I noticed a crowd had gathered. Justmy hick! I had walked up on a fight in progress. The experiences of a decadent youth had ttught me to avoid these little

flascoes, no matter _ .. ...T*'T^*. w *r > VT r .'~ ,nnrT . v * v< n

how cmenaining they might seem.

■had just tuned so wdk away when I notleed ^ had infaqmotWwner.hemnmhl may right one of Warner's associates who was reponedu a^andptadself^lefense.lpolntectomthm have beeoon the scene. I approached him and l»mlgh»««heindlcied. lco l ddmmhmhewaa not humanly possible. At this poii* another . After a kitu pitnc he nodded hia head yq crowd had maned to gather arotmd ua. After BtahedertedshoottnjtVatMr.OhweU^nie wishing him a long and healthy life I made a *« day I went tack to Vic and made my rather abrupt departure. Rule one of investiga- reportVic pieaanedit tothe deputy prosecutions is go Intneal the end of the day. prefer- tor. who npon heanng that dne woe witably without having to explain to Homicide at other than family manbets wto taw the police department why you shot six would- WarnerputaguntoGomez'sheaddectdedher

case wasn t nearly as strong as she had first

assumed.

About a week later, Gomez was presented withapteaagrcementthatwould release him in eight months. He took it There’s a lot that can be learned from this case. First, it is never a good pin to threaten someone else'slife. That Wamerwashighis no excuse. Gomez never admitted to shooting Warner, at least not to me, butifhedid.hewas, in my opinion, justified. He made a mistake by leaving the scene. What usually happens in these scenarios is the friends of whoever was shot strip the body of the weapon and in some cases valuaUes. When the police roll upon die scene, what they find is an “unasmed” corpse. Had Gomez stayed on the scene, he could have prevented that and strengthened his self-de-fense position Once you leave the scene, law enforcement officials view you in a different light Being innocent until proven guilty notwithstanding, their opinion is that if you had nothing to hide, why did you run? Gomez’s family did the right thing by contacting an attorney to assist him in turning himself in. Having Vic there alleviated the chance of him being tricked into making any “admissions against interest” Oh, and by the way, Lisa Gomez had to move, she decided it was best after shots were fired into her apartment and it was fire bombed. To date the cops haven’t cleaned up the 23id-and-Delaware-Street area. Maybe the Metro GangTaskForce could put that on its agenda. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, send them to “You and The Law,” 5868 E 71st St. Suite 202. Indianapolis. IN

46220.

Crimes committed in the name of God

WASHINGTON—Freedomof expression and freedom of religion are in great peril in America today, primarily because anti-abortion zealots, cult leaden and religious fanatics are committing terriUe crimes in the name of God. And we don’t know quite how to deal with them under our Constitution. In Pensacola, Fla., Dr. David Gunn was shot to death outside his abortion clinic by a man who shouted, “Don't kill any more babies.” We know how to deal with Michael FiederickGriffin, the confessed gunman. We try him for murder. But how do we deal with the anti-abortionists who last summer put out a “WANTED” poster with a picture of Dr. Gum. his tdqihoaenumber.and other information th* might help an assassin find htanTThiaoccurred at aMontgomety, Ala., rally for RandaD Terry, leader of Operation Rescue,

testktg at the Florida clinic where

freedom of speech. Serious constitutional issues are raised in the standoff between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBIagainst members of David Kotesh’s Brandi Davidian cult in Waco, Texas. Itisno crime for Koresh to claim dim he is Jesus, or for gullible people to believe him It can’t be Dr. Gum was shot in the back. much of a crime for Koiesh and his We know that it is a felony to followers to stockpile guns in a hire a hit man, and a crime to con- state where you can buy firearms spire to commit murder. Is it mere the way you buy cough drops. We crimeless freedom of speech for need the ATF to tell us what's in people to put out WANTED post- the warrants they had to legitimize ersonadoctor who performs abor- the February 28 raid on the Koiesh tions? compound in which four ATF Who can stop the semi-deranged agents were killed and 16 wounded, people who harass women patients, and some of the Branch Davidians block access to clinics, sometimes were killed, bomb them and otherwise terrorize What justifies a police assault both patients and clinic workers? on a reUgious cult? That Koresh The Supreme Gourt said last Jam- was impregnating several “wives”? ary that federal judges cannot do That he allegedly was having sex the job. That means the Congress with 12-year-old girls? That some and/or state legislatures must pass of Iris followers were being held laws that may indeed curtail some against their will? That he had an

awesome arsenal? That he is a “nut"? With what authority or wisdom does the FBI say it will let Koresh talk to God, but won’t allow him to talk to the media? Especially when God doesn’tseemeagerto talk, but the press is?, The lawmen who screwed up bigtime in that February raid seem eagertomake the press theirscapegoat, and that too becomes a First Amendment threat And there is still the issue of the World Trade Center bombing and of possible Islamic fundamentalist violence before us — a p**—qu* marriage of political and reUgious

All these murderous events strain the basic fabric of a society

to most people on tttis planet As every generation before us has, we must find the wisdom and strength to rein in those who kill in the name of God without ourselves becoming the killers of liberty.

Expect Clinton to cut back aid to urban areas

Expect an by President

bock on the grants he promised to utbsn areas. He will probably say that pressure to cut bock the $16.3 billion “stimulus” spending is the cause for his backtracking on Ms promise to Mack mayors and politicians. If he doesn’t renege on Iris pseudo-promise to Macks, it will be unusual because he has broken Ms promises to everyone else. Last week, it was the homosexual’s turn. During the 1992campaign, he told them if drey voted for him he would allow them to serve In the military openly as gays and lesbians. After becoming president, largely with the help of gays, a judge roled that gays should be admitted to the military. Five weekslaier. President Ginton sent his la wyen to court to stop the judge’s ruling. Last week, he completely broke Ms pledge and srid he was considering segregating gays in the military if they are admitted. TMs final act of deceit caused his gay friend of 25 years and a dose aide, David Mixner, to call Ginton’s decision “morally repugnant." The president’s actions “sickened my stomach,” Mixner said. “To see someone in whom 1 invested such hope and held in such Mgh regard seriously proent an option to segregate

my community was morally repugnant." You might say it wasjust the gays’turn Before them. Slick Willie has finessed the Haitians, small businesses, college-bound students, tfre elderly and middle-class taxpayets—Mgtime. Ginton has devised a tax gimmick that artifidaDy bumps low- and middle-income families into higher income brackets so he can say the income bracket they truly belong to is not being taxed—only the “rich” are. He calls the flimflam “family economic income.” For example, if you make $20,000 a year, Ginton will teU you the “rich” (working families making $10400 a year) are the real problem and we are going back to get back at them because they stole from the poor in the ’80l Ginton's haie-the-rich message: If you only make $20/100, you didn’t steal in the 80's, or youdidn’tdoitvery well and youdeserveatax break — so no new taxes for those below $30/XX) (he originally said no new taxes bdow $100/100).

But while you’re feeling good about the class war and gening bock at the “rich.** Ginton adds things such as the lips you didn't report on your taxes or the rent he says you collected (and you say you didn’t) to yoor $20,000 income and artificially puts you in the $30/100 group. That way he can sayhe does not tax those below $30/100. So, akhough you pay taxes on $20/100. Qiaroa says you make $30/100and, of course, no one who makes $20/XX) pays new taxes. But yoo do because he artificially boosted your incone by 40 percent. Now do you know why they call Mm Slick Willie? If you still don’t get it, there's a Slick Willie Gazette inPine Bluff, Ark. (1-800-EGO-BILL) that sayst “We know Bill Ginton. Unfortunstdy, you wi D too." I called to get a copy of the current edition, but it's Ml sold out A lot of penpjf must be wondering also. ■ Tony Brown'sJoumalTV series can be seen on WFYI-Channet 20 at I pm. Sundays In

«