Solidarity Press Conference

by Aundra Berry

On March 15th, 2006, the Racial Justice Campaign Against Operation Meth Merchant joined leaders from African American, African immigrant and Latino grassroots organizations to affirm their cooperative efforts to combat the problems in the U.S. criminal justice system that continue to have such detrimental effects on minority individuals, families and businesses. The RJCAOMM stood together with these local grassroots social justice organizations to raise awareness of the various instances of racial profiling in various communities of color and to demand action in a press rally and march originating at Robert W. Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta.

The event, which attracted more than 450 supporters and an equal number of spectators, opened with an impassioned speech from Deepa Iyer, representing SAALT (South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow), that cautioned communities of color to stop isolating themselves from each other based on misperceptions and prejudices. She underscored the fact that minority communities share some of the same history relating to discrimination and mistreatment in the criminal justice system. The crowd responded to her heartfelt call for unity in the face of prejudice and oppression.

The rally continued with Terence Courtney of Jobs with Justice who urged the crowd to work together building collective strength to assert and fight for human rights whenever injustice occurs, whether it is in the legal system or in the workplace. Courtney lauded Raksha and the RJCAOMM for bringing Jobs with Justice into the campaign.

After a word from Glory Kilanko (Women Watch Africa) on the impact of human rights violations on immigrant and minority communities, supporters were again energized by a plea from Homero Leon (Coordinating Council of Latino Community Leaders) to become aware of the history of victimization, marginalization and violation faced by early immigrants to the United States so that all communities can learn from those past struggles. His speech brought the message home that no group can afford to ignore the discrimination and injustices that many face when seeking a better life in America.

RJCAOMM campaign organizer Deepali Gokhale closed out the rally by providing a glimpse of the devastation wrought on the South Asian community by the DEA’s misguided efforts to eradicate methamphetamine sale, use and distribution through the “Operation Meth Merchant” stings. She asserted that people of color know all too well how devastating it is to their communities when the very system that is charged with keeping them safe turns and targets them instead.

With their resolve to fight for change strengthened, the mass of supporters then began a march to the office of Attorney General David Nahmias. The RJCAOMM wanted to make a symbolic presentation to the Attorney General of several hundred letters of solidarity signed by allied organizations and individuals from all over the country. The letters express the organizations’ concern over the targeting of the South Asian community by law enforcement in “Operation Meth Merchant” and make a unified call for an end to the unfair prosecutions. On the route to the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, the campaign supporters Dan Horowitz de Garcia and Joanne Demark led the group as they sang and chanted for “JUSTICE NOW” in Gujarati. US Attorney David Nahmias’ office refused to accept the solidarity letters, showing the prosecutions refusal to recognize the community’s support for the defendants of Operation Meth Merchant.

The rally and march attracted a great deal of interest from passersby who requested more information on the campaign and expressed their support for RJCAOMM’s efforts.