CNN O.J. Simpson Trial News: Opinion about Fuhrman tapes is split along racial lines

Opinion about Fuhrman tapes is split along racial lines

While LAPD Chief Willie Williams attempts to put out more fires

September 1, 1995

From Correspondent Bob Vito

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Retired detective Mark Fuhrman and aspiring screenwriter Laura Hart McKinny conversed for about 12 hours on tape over the years. In excerpts given to Judge Lance Ito, Fuhrman uses 41 racial epithets and makes statements about police being above the law. The judge has ruled that the jury may hear only two excerpts in which Fuhrman uses the "n-word."

The diverse community of Los Angeles is reacting to the ruling. And it appears that opinions are split predominantly along racial lines.

A Latino woman says, "I think the jury only needs to hear it once to know what Mark Fuhrman is a racist. Once you say the n-word, nigger, I mean we pretty much know where he stands."

An African-American man: "You're letting just small evidence in about using the n-word. Why not let everything in that Mark Fuhrman done in this case."

From the Crimson Tonsorial Barbers, African-American patrons have these opinions: "I think the judge is very, very weak. He didn't show no kind of justice."

Another says, "I think the thing that they did let in is kind of minute, very small."


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From Eddie Carroll's Hair Salon in Beverly Hills, a white man says, "I think he did the right thing because why should you put more wood on the fire when already you know the person is prejudice. That's enough."

A white patron of the salon: "This is a waste of time. It has nothing to do, really, with the outcome of the trial."

Among the Active West Midtown Bowlers, an African-American group, the opinion from one woman: "I don't think it was fair. I think he should've just let them listen to what everybody listened to."

At the Beverly Hills Health and Fitness Club, a white woman say, "I think the judge is being fair. And I think that that's cool."

But community leaders in South Central Los Angeles are outraged at the judge's decision. "Judge Ito's decision smells of corruption, cover-up, racism, disrespect for all morally decent people in this city and in this country," says Brotherhood Crusade leader Danny Bakewell.

The Los Angeles police officers, who are once again under the microscope because of Fuhrman, disagree. "I think the judge made a good ruling," an officer says. "He made the sense in that he wanted to show he (Fuhrman) lied on the stand which indeed he did. And that will be proven by the two excerpts. Anything else doesn't seem to be relevant."

But the Los Angeles police department has new worries. At a press conference Friday, Police Chief Willie Williams says he's taking personnel action against two officers who have admitted to falsifying evidence in a murder case.

Williams says the confession by one officer of forging a witness' signature, forced prosecutors to drop charges against two defendants in the case. He says the officers have turned over their weapons and badges, pending an Internal Affairs investigation.

He says he wants to make it clear to the public that his department does not tolerate police misconduct. "The message that I have heard from police officers including some officers that I was with about two hours ago, they said, 'Chief, what we see on television is not us. If it means stepping forward, moving these people aside, publicly exposing them, then go ahead and do it.'" (272k .aiff sound file)

Meanwhile, Simpson defense attorney Johnnie Cochran left the courthouse Friday, still upset over Judge Ito's ruling and claiming that he may not even use the two Fuhrman statements that the judge permitted because those examples were the weakest.

Opinion about Fuhrman tapes is split along racial lines

While LAPD Chief Willie Williams attempts to put out more fires

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