Phoenix Journal 197 - Four Winds 10

Many participants wore T-shirts with Martin Luther King Jr.’s face behind a target, and others wore Tshirts
emblazoned with O.J. Simpson in a hangman’s noose. Racial slurs were everywhere. Near the park
entrance, for example, a sign warned: “Nigger Checkpoint”. Another read, “Is there a Nigger in your
Car?” And music, peppered with the word “nigger”, filled the air. The most popular item, though, was the
special “Nigger Hunting License” that was distributed to everyone.
Now, guess who the participants were: All were white men, all were either local cops or federal agents. At
least six still are active members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Twelve others are
retired ATF agents, and a few of them are suspected of helping to organize the outdoor retreat, which has
been held since 1980. To their credit, two of the active ATF agents left the scene when they saw and heard
the racism.
The implications of this activity are almost too frightening to ponder. We have officers of the law, all sworn
to protect the lives of citizens—including African-Americans—participating in a racist affair. How many of
these officers and agents have had assignments in black neighborhoods? How many are in a position to
hire and fire Black people?
“It’s scary,” said Ronald Noble, Treasury undersecretary for enforcement. “People who engage in this
sort of activity should give up their badges.”
Absolutely, John Magaw, director of ATF, said the bureau has a policy of “zero tolerance” for all forms of
discrimination. That may be true, but, at this very moment, ATF is facing sexual harassment, age discrimination
and race discrimination lawsuits. Apparently, the “zero tolerance” policy is not working.
A spokeswoman for the approximately 300 Black agents in the race discrimination suit said that the racism
at the retreat simply is a manifestation of a widespread problem at the agency. She said Black agents
routinely are “put up front to do the most dangerous work, the most time-consuming and low-paying work
and assignments that don’t count toward career advancement.”
ATF officials argue that the bureau has made great progress in rooting out prejudice. But that claim is hard
to believe when, time and again, top officials and rank-and-file agents are accused of bigotry. When Black
agents first filed suit, Michael Riselli, one of their attorneys, said: “It’s pretty striking and significant that
you’ve got an agency that from time to time gets called upon to help in civil rights cases...that doesn’t
handle its own problems in that area.”
The time has come for Magaw to clean house, to round up all of the “Good O’ Boys”. The policy of “zero
tolerance” for discrimination should not be mere words on paper. It must become standard operating
procedure. Nothing else is acceptable. [End quoting]
Notice the date of this article—since then they appear to have changed only for the worst and I expect it’ll
be even worse next year. Hope I’m wrong!
DWAYNE ANDREAS AND
ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND
“Mr. Nice Guy” and
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