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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Contact: |
Jodilyn
Erikson-Muldrew, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney or |
|
James
C. Powers, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney |
| Phone: |
786-5540 |
PROSECUTOR OUTRAGED BY RACIST LEAFLETS
This
morning, the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office received
information from several law enforcement agencies that leaflets had been
appearing at residences in various locations within Thurston County.
The leaflets were inside bags of apparent cat litter, and contained
racist statements against African-Americans and misleading assertions about
AIDS and the HIV virus. The distribution of these leaflets is currently a matter
being investigated by law enforcement. While
mindful of every citizen’s right to free expression, such messages of hate
are both irresponsible and utterly deplorable.
The
previous release of information by this office concerning allegations in the
presently pending case of State v. Anthony E. Whitfield was solely for
the purpose of alerting persons in the community who may have been exposed to
the HIV virus through contact with Mr. Whitfield.
The investigation indicates that anyone having had sexual contact with
Anthony E. Whitfield since 1992 may have been exposed to the HIV virus.
We are also concerned about the potentially large number of persons who
may have been secondarily exposed to the HIV virus as a result of this case.
I strongly urge any person who has had sexual contact with Anthony E.
Whitfield at any previous time to contact the Thurston County Health
Department for testing, and to not allow racial bigotry to discourage them
from coming forward.
Released
by EDWARD G. HOLM
Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney
April 1, 2004
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