ACLU Motion Bolsters Community Charges of Racial Bias In 'Operation Meth Merchant'

Public Demands that U.S. Attorney David Nahmias Drop the Prosecutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4th, 2006, 5:00 p.m.
Media Contact: Deepali Gokhale, 404-822-5090, stopomm@mindspring.com

ACLU Selective Investigation Reinforces Community Charges of Racial Bias
South Asian Stores Targeted Over 90 Times More Often in Operation Meth Merchant

Racial Justice Campaign Against Operation Meth Merchant Welcomes ACLU Motion
Legal Support Echoes Accusations of Unfairness from Law Enforcement from the Public

ACLU Motion Follows Community Outcry of Racial Targeting
Victims of ‘Operation Meth Merchant Feel Vindicated by Motion


Tuesday, April 4th, 2006, Atlanta, GA — Echoing community cries of injustice and racial targeting in the government’s controversial “Operation Meth Merchant”, lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union’s Drug Law Reform Project will file a selective investigation motion in court tomorrow. The Racial Justice Campaign Against Operation Meth Merchant (RJCAOMM) has spent months organizing to stop the prosecutions of South Asian convenience store operators indicted for selling legal products allegedly with the knowledge the goods would be used to make methamphetamine. The ACLU motion will reveal facts that authorities selectively targeted South Asians in their investigation.

The RJCAOMM created a groundswell of local, national, and international support that has moved public opinion enough to encourage people to tell the truth. “Operation Meth Merchant is under attack in court and, just as importantly, in the community,” said Christina Alvarez, an ACLU attorney representing defendants in the cases related to the operation. “The local community’s ability to courageously speak as a unified voice in protest of the operation has been, and will continue to be, crucial to obtaining justice for the accused.”

The ACLU’s selective investigation motion reveals facts that reinforce the Campaign’s assertions. “Scapegoating a community based on their race will never make northwest Georgia safer,” said Priyanka Sinha from Raksha, an Atlanta-based organization serving the South Asian community. “Law enforcement has a responsibility to investigate people based on evidence, not skin color. These people are human beings. They are hard-working and long standing members of the Georgia community. Because of these racially targeted and irresponsible prosecutions, their lives are ruined.”

On Tuesday, March 14th, 2006, RJCAOMM organizers met with U.S. Attorney David Nahmias and key officers behind the sting operation. Despite the overwhelming demonstration of solidarity from organizations and individuals from all races and backgrounds around the country, Nahmias has remained unmoved for the sake of winning at all costs, regardless of what justice requires in these cases. The families affected by the sting operation believe the ACLU filing will mark a turning point in the Campaign. “We are fighting together, we are not alone, we knew we were treated unfairly and now here is the proof. Because we have come together ourselves, others are also coming forward to tell the truth and demand that the Government treat us fairly,” said Gita Patel, wife of one of the South Asian store owners devastated by the sting operation.

“At one of our rallies, we demanded that the prosecutors ‘air the dirty laundry’ in this racially biased operation,” said Deepali Gokhale, organizer of the Racial Justice Campaign. “We are pleased that the ACLU’s motion will finally begin that process, and that everyday people, empowered enough to stand up for justice, have once again made the difference.”


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