Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 November 2000 — Page 7

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3,2000

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE A7

National News

Fired official alleges bias; tapes white colleague’s comments AUSTIN (NNPA) — A fired high-ranking Slack female employee has filed a discrimination complaint against Texas Health Commissioner Dr. William “Reyn” Archer III, saying he subjected her to a humiliating analysis of her “spiritual problems” and made direct references to her race and to lynching. In a tape recording former Associate Commissioner Dr. Demetria Montgomery made of a conversation with Archer earlier this year, he tells her she is too smart and encourages her to think more with her heart and less with her intellect if she wishes to succeed. “I want you to be clear about what I’m asking you,” Archer said near the conclusion of a 30minute rambling, spiritually oriented conversation about her employment future. “That is, facts lead to lynchings. Relationships lead to hope.” Archer did not expound on the lynching comment. He declined to discuss with the Houston Chronicle his conversation with Montgomery. The reference to lynching is at the top of Montgomery’s list of ^grievances in her complaint. » Her attorney provided the |Chronicle with a copy of the •audiotape the employee surreptiniously made Feb. 2. It is legal to ^record a conversation in Texas as long as one party is aware of it. Montgomery, a 45-year-old ioctor of internal medicine, Irequested the meeting with {Archer because her supervisor old her he wanted to replace her, iccording to the woman’s ^attorney. She was fired Sept. 20. f Montgomery’s sex and racial ^discrimination complaint named her and her direct supervisor, :puty Commissioner John , r> vans. The complaint is filed ith Texas Commission on * uman Rights, the state'atm of i

the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Health department officials had not seen the complaint and declined comment, saying it was a “legal matter.” Archer’s record of controversial comments about ethnic groups and women has caused grief for Gov. George W. Bush on the presidential campaign

trail.

Rep. Johnson says Bush misled public on health insurance, food for kids

during debate

WASHINGTON (NNPA) — U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, expressed disappointment with Gov.

George W. Bush’s statements on health care during the St. Louis presidential debates last month.

“I feel as if I need to remind the governor that in Texas, we raise our children to tell the

truth,” the congresswoman said in a letter to the press. “Mr. Bush

repeatedly says that he is for government grants to states so

scrutiny in the city that has sent more people to death row than most states, opponents of capital punishment staged a nonviolent civil disobedience action recently at the office of District Attorney

Lynne Abraham.

Despite the glaring economic and racial discrimination in death sentencing that have made Philadelphia the focus of international condemnation, Abraham’s office continues to ignore the voices of legal experts, state senators, religious leaders, human rights organizations and even her own City Council, all of whom have called for a morato-

rium on executions.

The need for a moratorium became even clearer recently when William Nieves, wrongly convicted during Abraham’s tenure, became a free man after spending eight years on the

state’s death row.

PennsylvaniaAbolitionists United Against the Death Penalty held a sit-in at Abraham’s office. In February, the City Council voted overwhelmingly in favor of

that the states can solve their own t * ie non-binding resolution, problems. Yet when the govern- prompting city councils in

ment gave him hundreds of millions of dollars to insure poor children under CHIP, he didn’t

use it.”

The congresswoman says that Bush’s hand had to be forced on the issue. “Ajudge had to step in and order him to insure those kids. When the federal government gave him millions of dollars to feed poor children, he

Pittsburgh, Erie, Harrisburg and York to pass similar measures. The Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations also have called for a moratorium on

executions.

“The elected representatives of Philadelphia are the voice of the people, and they have spoken clearly and decisively on this issue,” Pennsylvania Abolition-

didn’t use it. As a result, my state jf 5 Executive Director Jeffrey

will not get those funds next

year.”

According to the Children’s Rights Councils, under Bush, Texas dropped from 29th to 48th in a study of the best places to

raise children.

Death penalty opponents to sit In at DA.’s office to

Garis said of the 12-4 City Council vote. “The district attorney’s ongoing rhetoric that

the death penalty is administered fairly has grown tiresome. We’re

demanding that she finally acknowledge what people everywhere have long been saying — that death sentencing

in Philadelphia is an atrocity, and

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