COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF RACISM IN TULIA, TEXAS

Early day motion 1002, tabled 20 April 2004 by Keith Vaz (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House acknowledges the exoneration of 46 victims falsely accused of drug dealing in Tulia, Texas by a racially motivated narcotics agent, Mr Tom Coleman, in 1999 and unjustly sentenced to long prison sentences; notes that the forced imprisonment of these innocent people is reported by the civil rights movement as one of modern America's most overt acts of discrimination; notes that in the investigation that followed when two of the accused produced solid alibis all 46 victims were subsequently exonerated; welcomes the development in May this year when Mr Tom Coleman will go on trial for perjury.

Signatures by party: Labour 25, Liberal Democrat 2, Plaid Cymru 2.