Editorial

The ordeal undergone by the members of "Blue Magic" while in the custody of sheriffs deputies and Ann Arbor Police is reminicent of horror stories that came out of Mississippi and Alabama during the early days of the civil rights movement. The blatant racism and brutality exhibited by the officers involved is even more shocking when it is brought out in an incident occuring in 1975 in our own backyard.

This case would probably never have come to light if it hadn't involved members of an up-and-coming musical group with firm backing from Atlantic Records, and who were able to secure the services of a top notch attorney to represent them. Had the victims been a group of ordinary people off the street, this casual denial of basic civil rights would more than likely have passed unnoticed.

The failure of the Ann Arbor News to expose the incident until weeks later, even though they had a reporter and photographer on the scene, deserves strong reproach as well. It was not until the SUN had published its account of the incident and after the Associated Press ran a story on it that the News finally ended the blackout.

The investigations conducted by the Sheriff s Department and the Ann Arbor Police Department are a study in contrast. Sheriff Postill has demonstrated in this incident a willingness to stand up for justice even when it means acknowledging misconduct by his own officers. On the other hand, Ann Arbor Police Chief Krasny seems to be committed to a policy of looking the other way and covering up for the conduct of his officers.

This incident further reinforces the case for independent handling of citizens' complaints against police through some form of civilian review board. The SUN also hopes that the shock generated by "Blue Magic's" awful experience will focus the attention of the people of Ann Arbor and of the City Council on the need to establish some form of pólice accountability to the community.