News & Commentary

Michael Uth is a member of the ACLU of Ohio Board of Directors.

Last week, I attended the Drug Policy Alliance’s International Drug Policy Reform Conference held in Denver, Colorado. The Drug Policy Alliance and its talented staff did a masterful job of putting together a conference that gave a voice to many people impacted by the War on Drugs while highlighting the multitude of reasons why this destructive war must end.

The Cincinnati Collaborative Agreement is one of the most innovative plans ever devised to improve police-community relations. Created as a response to a community troubled by ongoing violence and lack of understanding between police and community members, the agreement engages both police and everyday citizens to invest in the neighborhood and make their environment a better place for both groups. The agreement resulted from a settlement after the ACLU joined with the Cincinnati Black United Front to file suit in 2001 alleging racial profiling and discriminatory law enforcement. Enacted in April 2002 with a five-year time frame, the agreement outlined these objectives:

George Beatty. Beatty is a graduate of Withrow High School class of 1968. Beatty then attended and graduated with a B.A. from Antioch college in 1973. Member of National Association of Security Dealers, President West-End community council 1999-2001, President of Genesis 1999-2001 and Precinct executive democratic party-1D. Beatty currently is President of the East End Pendleton Heritage Center and Owner and entrepeneur- Junebugs Barbeque, 1800 Linn Street in the West-end.

First and foremost, I am a human being
Not a monster of different color skin
Not an inferior organism unworthy of
fair treatment
Not a material product to be used to
serve your greed
First and foremost, I am a man of faith
Not a Muslim terrorist
Not a heathen, unworthy of God’s love
Not a man lost in the troubles of the world
First and Foremost, I am a lover
Not a women lover
Not a man lover
But a lover... Period!
And First and foremost, I am a kid
One that has grown through the ages, just like you
One that has learned from culture and society, just like you
One that has craved snack during halftime of a basketball game,
just like you
And One that deserved fair judgment from a fellow human being,
just like you
But because you couldn’t see past the color of my skin
Because you couldn’t see past he the preference of my love
Because you couldn’t see past the name of the God I worship
You let the hoodie on my back describe who I am
Neglected my right as a human being
And denied my right to live
And until you are able to see past the exterior of my “hoodie”,
You will never see me as a human being...