George,

I almost cried when I heard about Gordon Fields. I hope it isn't true. I don't know the young man but everything I have heard about him is that he is a fine young person. What does bother me is what I see as a double standard. If a bunch of rednecks had been beating up blacks, the NAACP, etc. would have been calling out the justice department. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, spokepersons for the black community have not even condemned the beatings but have accused the police of racial bias in making the arrests.

Downing Smith (electronic mail, February 14, 2002)

P.S. Since I originally wrote the preceding over a month ago, involved citizens, both black and white, have realized the perception of the double standard and the perception that Charlottesville residents care more about the assailants than the victims. Community leaders have now come out to denounce the violence and express sympathy for the victims. Despite the actions of our community since early in the incident, I think the initial reaction showed a double standard.

Downing Smith (electronic mail, March 20, 2002)