DETROIT, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -

"The American people are entitled to answers regarding the alleged CIA/crack cocaine connection and the distribution to urban communities across the country. I am calling for the opening, not only of the crack cocaine files, but the opening of all files related to government involvement in the distribution of drugs in the black community," declared Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) today.

"The American public has submitted over 2,000 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. None of these requests have been answered. Given the grave consequences of crack cocaine on the African American community, we cannot tolerate nor accept the withholding of this crucial life and death information. Last year, I took action to get more answers and information about other alleged illegal issues by introducing the Intelligence Budget Accountability Bill H.R. 753 in the 105th Congress," stated Conyers.

Speaking at the National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) forum on the "CIA/Crack Cocaine Connection" recently, Conyers continued, "Recent research traces a direct link between the CIA and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to drug trade in the United States. We're going to put this matter on the front burner at the Congressional Black Caucus this fall in Washington, D.C. Our laws require equal justice. Yet, there continues to be an enormous sentencing and enforcement disparity between upscale whites and African American users for the same category of crime," stated Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus.

"Sixty-seven percent of cocaine users are white, while 33% of crack users are black. Currently, the laws are structured so that whites tend to get lighter sentences than African Americans for the same category of crime. Despite these disproportionate figures, African Americans are still the main target of police and drug interdiction agencies across the country," Conyers said.

Other NCBL speakers included Nkechi Tafia, Howard University Law Professor; Dr. Jerome Reid, NCBL MI chapter president and Professor Mark Fancher, University of Michigan.

SOURCE Office of Congressman John Conyers, Jr. -0- 06/05/97
CONTACT: Andi Mitchell, Detroit Press Secretary for Congressman John Conyers, Jr., 313-961-5670

CO: ST: Michigan IN: SU: {PRNewswire:Misc-0605.593} 6/5/97