Officials Urged to Intensify the War on Drugs

In the style of delegates to a political convention, a spirited, foot-stomping crowd filled the Century High School gymnasium Monday night to say that they want an end to the drug epidemic.

Gathering under signs that identified the names of their churches or neighborhoods, about 2,000 people asked elected officials to provide more leadership in the drug war.

“Tonight we demand that our voices be taken seriously in this county,” the Rev. Stephen Mather of the First Presbyterian Church of Anaheim said. “We must be listened to by our elected officials.”

The meeting was organized by the Orange County Congregation-Community Organizations, a coalition of religious and lay people banded together to fight the problems that affect “the quality of life” in neighborhoods.

The group, which has been active in Orange County for six years, represents 17 churches and 50,000 families from throughout the county, organizers say.

Along with parents and children who came to call for more action on the drug problem were several officials, including Superior Court Judge David O. Carter, Santa Ana Police Lt. Bob Chavez and Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. James G. Enright.

Not present was county Supervisor Don R. Roth, who ruffled the feathers of organizers when he told them last week that he could not attend.

Organizers contend that Roth canceled at the last minute because he was afraid that he would be confronted with a hostile crowd dissatisfied with the county’s effectiveness in battling drugs. But Roth said he never promised to attend.

Organizers reserved an empty seat on the stage for him.

“They said Supervisor Roth was afraid to come to our meeting,” said Raquel Estrada, one of the organizers. “Well, we too are afraid. Afraid of what is happening to our children and what is happening to our neighborhoods.”

One by one, representatives of different churches and neighborhoods took turns at the boisterous meeting to talk about how drugs affect their communities and offer solutions to elected leaders.

“We urgently need to include special programs for drug-affected children entering our school systems,” said Annabelle Staines of Orangethorpe United Methodist Church in Fullerton. “We need it today. Tomorrow may be too late.”