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.

Federal Prosecutors Pressure Two More People to Plead Guilty

Picture by William Martin, for the Rome News-Tribune

Article by Aundra Berry

On Tuesday, February 21, 2006 two additional defendants appeared in Federal court in Rome, Georgia to plea guilty to charges that they knew the legal products they were selling in 2004 and 2005 would be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The Racial Justice Campaign against Operation Meth Merchant continues to work to raise awareness of the injustices and inconsistencies surrounding this case and calls for accountability from prosecutor Lisa Tarvin and Attorney General David Nahmias for the viciousness of their focus on this small, marginalized community. The defendants targeted by this operation have faced overwhelming pressure to accept the plea deals offered by prosecutor Lisa Tarvin. Fearful of the estimated $250,000 fine, the prospect of spending up to 25 years in prison, and the small likelihood of getting a fair trial in an area with elevated anti-immigrant sentiment, Balvedbhai Patel and Rekha Remesh faced few alternatives as their legal fees continued to mount and pressure from law enforcement increased.

The hearings were followed by a candlelight vigil outside the courthouse to expose the devastating effect that the charges have wrought on the affected families, their lives and their businesses. Campaign organizer Deepali Gokhale stressed to media representatives from the Rome News Tribune, Fox News and WGCL Atlanta that many of the defendants who have pled guilty have done so only after running out of options, with no money, patience, and resolve left to carry on the uphill battle against the charges.

To bolster this sentiment, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund issued a press release about the troubling representation of guilty pleas as a sign of success. The Drug Policy Alliance also issued a press statement, focusing on how nonsensical it is to hold store clerks responsible for policing the failed War on Drugs, arresting them when they are simply doing their jobs and providing good customer service.

Many of the family members and defendants were on hand to tell their own stories of emotional devastation and financial ruin. One woman, Sohela Ahmed, gave her own heart-rending account of the suffering endured by her family as her husband Mohammed awaits trial. Though Sohela recounted the touching details of how her family has depleted its savings and has lost most of their income, the Ahmed’s remain committed to fighting the charges. Mohammed’s emotional state is tenuous and his legal problems have dealt him a near-paralyzing blow. But for him, a U.S. citizen, returning to India is not an option after 20 years spent building a life in the states.

Of the 49 defendants arrested under the meth sting, 8 have been either misidentified or dismissed, and 20 additional cases are still pending. The Racial Justice Campaign will continue to gather support for the South Asian community through on-going outreach efforts and press events. The goal of the campaign is to have the cases dismissed by spotlighting the racially biased sting operation and demanding alternative measures on the part of law enforcement to combat the rising drug problem in North Georgia. Studies have shown the effectiveness of education, outreach and rehabilitation in reducing drug use and associated crime in communities across the nation.