Time and space permitting

BILL STRAUS

Ah, a moment of solitude. They are quite rare, and I almost always have to prearrange for them, as I did to pen this column.

Almost everybody who reads this has a pretty good idea of what the Anti-Defamation League is all about. We fight anti-Semitism and bigotry of all kinds. Reactively, we respond to hate, wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head. Proactively, we are continually reaching increasing numbers of children of all ages through our educational programs. Until my moment of solitude expires or I reach my 500-word limit, I thought that it might be interesting to look specifically at what is on my ADL plate right now.

First, there is the much-publicized case of Larry Melsky. He is the man who died of injuries sustained while detained by security guards as an alleged shoplifter at a Fry's supermarket in north Scottsdale in October. ADL was contacted by the family a month later on the basis of background information obtained about one of the security guards, and the possibility that Melsky's death was a hate crime.

It seems that the security guard in question had a long history of violence and involvement with "white power" groups, including the Devil Dogs in his hometown of Gilbert. That, coupled with Melsky's fierce pride in his Judaism and reputation for vocal intolerance of anti-Semitism of any kind, provides the potential for an explosive situation. Additionally, photos of Melsky in the hospital portrayed injuries of such a brutal nature that ADL is anxiously awaiting the final reports from both the investigating Scottsdale Police Department and the County Medical Examiner.

I have met with lawyers for both the Melsky family and Fry's, and Police Chief Douglas Bartosh in Scottsdale. I must make it clear that at this point, we are merely an interested third party in this case. Very interested.

At this time each year, we have a number of cases dealing with religious themes incorporated into public school holiday programs. We talk with school administrators and explain what is and is not constitutionally protected. Hopefully, the school understands and takes steps to correct their insensitivity. In some cases, however, we must resort to the County Attorney to render a decision, as we did in a case last year in Santa Cruz County.

Conveying information is one of our primary jobs at ADL. Whether it's to our board members and friends of ADL, schools, churches and synagogues, police departments, the media or governmental officials, not a day goes by that we are not disseminating information to someone.

With that prophetically said, the phone rings. It's KTAR wanting to do an interview about the Council of Conservative Citizens, one of the overtly racist organizations Trent Lott has affiliated with, despite ADL's protest going back as far as 1998.

Solitude's over, and I'm at 500 words. Out of time. Out of space.

Bill Straus is the regional director of the Arizona chapter of the Anti-Defamation League. Contact him at 602-274-0991.

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