From Texas...Whad'ya Expect?
Blacks in Texas country file civil rights suit
6 plaintiffs say whites trying to keep them of political process
The Associated Press
HEMPSTEAD, Texas - Black leaders filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against several white officials in Waller County, alleging “an extensive illegal reign of terror against African-American” officials. One of the six plaintiffs, Justice of the Peace Dewayne Charleston, said District Attorney Oliver Kitzman sought to intimidate people after he lost a legal battle this year to keep students at historically black Prairie View A&M University from voting in the county northwest of Houston.
The lawsuit accuses Kitzman of trying to keep the plaintiffs out of Waller County’s political process. He made false claims against them, the suit says, in one case accusing Charleston of misreporting the hours he worked. The lawsuit says that although Charleston was cleared of the allegation Kitzman continues to try to indict him.
Kitzman told The Associated Press Tuesday he had not seen the lawsuit but had heard about some of the allegations.“It is absolutely, totally false,” he said.
Attorney Grover Hankins, who filed the lawsuit in Houston federal court, said Texas Gov. Rick Perry also is named because he holds the power to remove Kitzman from office.
Kathy Walt, a spokeswoman for Perry, said she could not comment on the lawsuit because she hadn’t seen it. But she added that Perry does not have the power to remove Kitzman because he didn’t appoint him.
“The power to remove a district attorney rests with local citizens,” Walt said.The lawsuit claims civil rights violations, conspiracy, malicious prosecution, infliction of emotional distress and libel.
It seeks unspecified damages and asks that the defendants be prevented from singling out blacks or “arresting or permitting the arrest of any individual where there exists only the uncorroborated word of the district attorney.”
Kitzman has said he returned to the county district attorney’s office in January 2003 after decades as a judge because he thought his “services were needed.”“I thought it was not being run efficiently and that I could do better,” he said.
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
6 plaintiffs say whites trying to keep them of political process
The Associated Press
HEMPSTEAD, Texas - Black leaders filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against several white officials in Waller County, alleging “an extensive illegal reign of terror against African-American” officials. One of the six plaintiffs, Justice of the Peace Dewayne Charleston, said District Attorney Oliver Kitzman sought to intimidate people after he lost a legal battle this year to keep students at historically black Prairie View A&M University from voting in the county northwest of Houston.
The lawsuit accuses Kitzman of trying to keep the plaintiffs out of Waller County’s political process. He made false claims against them, the suit says, in one case accusing Charleston of misreporting the hours he worked. The lawsuit says that although Charleston was cleared of the allegation Kitzman continues to try to indict him.
Kitzman told The Associated Press Tuesday he had not seen the lawsuit but had heard about some of the allegations.“It is absolutely, totally false,” he said.
Attorney Grover Hankins, who filed the lawsuit in Houston federal court, said Texas Gov. Rick Perry also is named because he holds the power to remove Kitzman from office.
Kathy Walt, a spokeswoman for Perry, said she could not comment on the lawsuit because she hadn’t seen it. But she added that Perry does not have the power to remove Kitzman because he didn’t appoint him.
“The power to remove a district attorney rests with local citizens,” Walt said.The lawsuit claims civil rights violations, conspiracy, malicious prosecution, infliction of emotional distress and libel.
It seeks unspecified damages and asks that the defendants be prevented from singling out blacks or “arresting or permitting the arrest of any individual where there exists only the uncorroborated word of the district attorney.”
Kitzman has said he returned to the county district attorney’s office in January 2003 after decades as a judge because he thought his “services were needed.”“I thought it was not being run efficiently and that I could do better,” he said.
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
posted by BLONDIE at 10:58 AM
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