Pubdate: Fri, 28 Jun 2002
Source: Gainesville Sun, The (FL)
Copyright: 2002 The Gainesville Sun
Contact:  http://www.sunone.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/163
Author: Michelle Doran
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1165/a10.html

KEEP A WATCH ON GROUP

I think the Gainesville Court Watch group is a good idea, if it is a group 
that will be watching out for the rights of the accused, as well as the 
victim. What worries me is this group sounds more like it will be 
advocating guilty until proven innocent.

If you follow the local news, you will recognize some of the members of the 
Court Watch group are also the people who want to have control over the 
lives of the homeless and poor in our community.

They proposed placing the homeless in a shelter that would force them to 
enter a drug treatment program and would not allow these individuals to 
work at the day labor employment facilities.

These people clump all homeless people in one category; if you are homeless 
then you must be addicted to drugs. How will they categorize the people who 
are on trial?

I believe all of us should be vigilant over our rights and the rights of 
all individuals, even those who do not follow our lifestyle or beliefs. 
Beware of groups that think their convictions are the only ones that matter.

Michelle Doran,

Gainesville
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MAP posted-by: Ariel