LasVegasSun

Today: August 29, 2001 at 18:20:30 PDT

Sharpton: Florida Hostile to Blacks

MIAMI BEACH, Fla.- The Rev. Al Sharpton on Wednesday criticized the government and police in South Florida, saying he sees a pattern of racial bias causing blacks to be treated as second-class citizens.

"Everyone is not welcome, everyone is not treated the same and South Beach is looking like the Deep South," Sharpton said.

Sharpton spoke before a hearing of a State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The panel held the informal hearing to listen to residents' complaints about discrimination and mistreatment at the hands of police.

Sharpton told the committee that his group, The National Action Network, would pressure South Florida government and law enforcement officials to fix what he called a pattern of "continued profiling, abuse and police misconduct."

"We intend to make this a national cry ... we intend to see something rectified here," Sharpton told the panel. About 150 people attended.

Dr. Bobby D. Doctor, regional director for the commission, said the panel has received several complaints alleging police abuse, discrimination in Ft. Lauderdale government offices and concerns over the impact of a federal housing program.

"It is very, very clear that there are a number of problems in the South Florida area," Doctor said.

Some of those waiting to speak before the panel at the hearing occasionally chanted a refrain often heard during the presidential election recount last year: "No Justice, No Peace."

Sharpton and others have alleged that black voters were disenfranchised by institutional racism.

Among other incidents he cited: A Maryland lawmaker earlier this year entered a bar in Perry and was told to sit in a separate area for blacks, and police actions with high-profile black celebrities, such as rap mogul Sean Combs and Raymond Scott, co-owner of the hip-hop magazine The Source.

"Florida in many ways has represented nationally some of the worst forms of abuse of civil rights in recent memory," Sharpton said. "The commission needs to know that there's a national concern."

Last week, Scott was arrested hours after The Source Hip-Hop Awards 2001 was taped on Miami Beach. Scott, 36, was charged with speeding and eight other violations. Police are investigating his allegation that the arresting officer hit him.

Miami Beach Police charged Combs with driving with a suspended license in April. The State Attorney's Office was also investigating a June 9 incident in which Combs allegedly ran a red light and almost hit a pedestrian.

Telephone calls seeking comment from the Miami Beach Police Department were not immediately returned Wednesday.

-- Anonymous, August 29, 2001