And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Iron County Minorities Criticize Criminal Justice System http://www.sltrib.com/03071999/utah/88647.htm THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CEDAR CITY -- Utah's criminal justice system treats American Indians and others from ethnic minorities as second class citizens, Iron County residents told a task force investigating the system's fairness. Few escaped criticism as residents talked of bad treatment from public defenders, police and school officials. Those who addressed the task force Friday said the lack of communication between minorities and the predominantly white population feeds a cycle of misunderstandings, frustration and anger. The speakers were assigned numbers to protect their anonymity. "We came from Nevada and we were friends with cops there, but the school district here automatically stereotyped my son as a gangbanger just because we are from Nevada," said one woman. "I hate the school district here so much that I pulled my son out and sent him back to Nevada to finish school." One man said American Indians are pegged as troublemakers. He described what he considered harassment by the Utah Highway Patrol. "One time they pulled me over and said they did because they had a report that a red car was passing people on the freeway. What kind of reason is that?" One woman described how an officer in Cedar City stopped her two days after she arrived in town from Las Vegas 13 years ago. "He pulled me over and asked what I was doing in town and I've had problems with him ever since." Dan Maldonado, a task force member, said the three points he heard most often were: police profile minorities, defense attorneys give poor representation and minorities need help understanding their rights. Chris Martinez, president of Image de Utah, suggested regular forums so police officers, lawyers, judges and teachers can educate minorities on their rights. The task force's report will be published by December. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
