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Contents © 1998
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

July/August 1998 LETTERS

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KEYES HURT PRO-LIFE CAUSE

Thank you, News Notes, for even mentioning the "B" [Buchanan] word in June ("Little Notes"). Early money from Catholic family budgets went to Alan Keyes in the '96 primary and not to Pat Buchanan, who would have ended the mass murder of abortion. How could Keyes accuse Buchanan of excessive public Catholicism when most pro-life Catholics supported Keyes?

As for Buchanan, his own received him not. It wasn't just Iowa. It was the pivotal New Hampshire primary where Dole was prepared to back out if Buchanan received more than 33 percent of the vote. Buchanan's 29 percent there in '96 could have been 33 percent without Keyes.

This former UN ambassador relentlessly split the pro-life vote long after it was apparent that he couldn't win and that his apparently pro-life cause was being adequately carried by Buchanan. This division insured Dole's position as frontrunner and his subsequent non-campaign against Clinton, who was re-elected by a majority of Catholics. More than that, the culture war was lost in the '96 primary, putting the Milquetoast, country-club pro-aborts firmly in control of the Republican Party. Golden PR opportunities to impeach Clinton, to eradicate the IRS, or to hold Senate hearings as to when human life begins will never be seized upon by this present Republican leadership. Right now, all Keyes and Buchanan are doing is keeping pro-life conservatives in a party where, thanks to Ambassador Keyes, they can never be effective.

-- Pat Sullivan
Poway


EXTREMELY DISTURBING

Ed. News Notes received this copy of this June 12 letter sent to the San Diego Police Chief Jerry Sanders.

Dear Chief Sanders:

I recently read a front-page news article in the San Diego News Notes that described conduct by members of the SDPD that I find extremely disturbing ("Officer, Help!", June). In fact, the allegations, if true, describe blatant civil rights violations against local citizens by members of the SDPD.

I enclose a copy of the article for your review. It is my hope that you will conduct an investigation of the incident. It is also my hope that you will instruct the officers involved of their duty to protect the safety of all citizens during free speech activity, despite the fact that the officers may disagree with the political viewpoints of the demonstrators.

I myself have engaged in First Amendment activity with the City of San Diego. And I have interacted with members of the SDPD on many occasions. I am happy to report that during the majority of these events, responding officers have been courteous, professional, and quite knowledgeable of the law.

I have witnessed several incidents, however, when individual officers have misrepresented the law for their own purposes or, as alleged in this article, have allowed third parties to physically assault political demonstrators with impunity. In most of the cases that I have personally witnessed, the officers who engage in this betrayal of their duty often disclose their motivation by discreetly expressing their disapproval of the political viewpoints of the demonstrators. The officers involved in this incident seem to have verbally expressed such prejudice.

I urge you to interview officer Curran and the other officers involved. I also urge you to place this letter in their personnel files to ascertain whether a pattern of such behavior occurs in the future.

I am forwarding a copy of this letter to the Mayor's office and to various First Amendment lawyers and civil rights specialists I know. We will monitor the activities of individual officers who unfairly target the pro-life community. As I am sure you are aware, civil rights abuses can be very costly to the city -- and to the individual officers involved.

I hope that with proper training, Officer Curran will conduct herself in an unbiased manner in the future -- thereby ensuring that the civil rights of all citizens are equally protected.

Sincerely yours,

-- Michael J. Kumeta
Attorney at Law
La Mesa

Ed. As noted in last month's story, when given a chance by phone to respond to pro-lifers' complaints of her ignoring their being assaulted while she and other officers stood by, San Diego police officer Laurie Curran requested that all questions by submitted in writing. She was faxed her a list of questions June 12. Follow-up phone calls over the next seven days went unanswered and, as of press time, Officer Curran had not responded.


POLICE BIAS AGAINST RELIGION IN GENERAL

I noted with significant interest the article by Anne Knight regarding the overt indifference toward pro-lifers being attacked in La Jolla (see "Officer, Help!", June 1998).

This is absolutely NO surprise to me as I had my own opportunity to experience the religious bias of the S.D. Police Department and believe it is time we stepped up to the plate with Chief Sanders, who by tacit, implicit, or explicit condoning is turning his head and refusing to even answer my inquiries.

I was erroneously stopped by one Officer Jay Odom, who made me to know in no uncertain terms that my profession in the clergy was not even close to being as relevant as his arrogant responsibilities. He continued, in the presence of a growing audience, to berate me when I pleaded my need to continue to Mercy Hospital where I had been called for a parishioner in distress, headed for surgery. A call I did not fulfill in time, while the officer held me, demeaned me (all confirmed by his comments to his supervising officer), and berated the office of clergy.

At present time I am preparing not only a defense of the charge, it has clearly shown the aforementioned overt bias against not only those opposed to abortion, but to religion in general. I am also preparing a case against this arrogant officer, his disinterested Chief Sanders, and the San Diego Police Department regarding the abuse of my civil rights. So, if you have others wanting to join this case, have them contact me.

Even if we lose, which becomes more and more likely in today's biased law enforcement and judicial system, I intend to expose the growing arrogance and utter indiferrence of the local enforcement agencies. You will find me to be no rabble-rouser or troublemaker. However, the Bible clearly notes, "How can two walk together except they be agreed?" and I assuredly no longer "agree" with this system.

-- Reverend Dan Swearengin
Senior Pastor, Calvary Temple
Hillcrest

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