Tulia, Texas
A Texas judge this week released 12 prisoners convicted four years ago on the testimony of a discredited former undercover officer. Tom Coleman, who is white, rounded up 46 alleged drug dealers in a small town called Tulia. The defendants included 39 African-Americans, 10 percent of Tulia’s black community. Civil-rights advocates said the arrests were racially motivated; Coleman insisted the defendants sold him cocaine in an undercover “sting.” He has since been charged with perjury, and Judge Ron Chapman said it would be a “travesty of justice” to let the convictions stand. The defendants must win appeals to stay free. “I just want to go home, look at TV, and stay out of trouble,” said Joe Moore, 59.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Washington grapples with ICE’s growing footprint — and futureTALKING POINTS The deadly provocations of federal officers in Minnesota have put ICE back in the national spotlight
-
‘One day fentanyl will come back — and there will be little anyone can do’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
15 years after Fukushima, is Japan right to restart its reactors?Today’s Big Question Balancing safety fears against energy needs
