Communities across South Carolina and the nation have been reacting to TAKEN, our groundbreaking investigative series about statewide civil asset forfeiture.Here are some of the letters readers sent us in response.
The Greenville News
For all information regarding the TAKEN series, visit GreenvilleNews.com/taken.
Series demonstrates importance of local journalism
The Greenville News' "Taken" series is an incredible story of South Carolina injustice and racism resulting from a warped interpretation of seizure laws.
Your investigative reporters —Anna Lee, Nathaniel Cary, and Mike Ellis — have demonstrated in dramatic form why it's so important that every community has a strong local newspaper with experienced, hard-working investigative journalists.
The fact that this entire story was discovered as one local reporter was doing her job on the court beat, where she just happened across a court case that seemed too bizarre to be true, shows how important beat reporting is, as well.
As a long-time Greenville resident, I'm very proud of our local paper and community for producing such outstanding journalism despite the obstacles of reduced resources and journalist staffing that is a fraction of what it once was.
Congratulations! Your effort to shed light on injustice and help the afflicted will no doubt result in multiple state and national journalism awards!
Melinda Young
Greenville
Table of contents: What's in the TAKEN civil forfeiture investigation
Have you been in a similar situation? Tell us your forfeiture story
Story told is one-sided; taxpayers don't care about tactics used
Stop attacking our police departments and sheriff's department. It's very apparent you're only telling one side of the story regarding the money being seized. These are drug-related issues, and taxpaying residentsdon't care what tactics are used.Support the authorities.
You mess around with drugs, you may be arrested or killed and/or lose your money.That's anage old truth, nothing new.
Dee Dellinger
Greer
TAKEN Episode 1: How police departments make millions by seizing property
TAKEN Episode 2: How civil forfeiture errors, delays enrich SC police, hurt people
'Black Property Matters'
We need a “Black Property Matters” movement in South Carolina.
Based on The Greenville News series, “Taken,” our politicians claim to respect property rights when developers want to build ugly condos but not when an elderly black woman wants to keep her home from being taken by the government without legal evidence.
Since state lawmakers are incompetent in funding our police and allow the seizure of black property, the salaries of innocent black musicians get taken so that police departments can fund their K-9 units.
Wonder what would happen if the police grabbed the cash of state legislators traveling from Greenville to Columbia? Or, tooktheir cars with no legal due process?
These incompetent politicians may then realize that “Black Property Matters” and start respecting and protecting it.
Mike Cubelo
Greenville
Major takeaways: 5 things we learned from TAKENcivil forfeiture investigation
Get the whole story
What's going on with The Greenville News? Who is letting the media attack law enforcement,what seems like daily,on the front page of the paper?Articles (about)seizing your property without reason.
When law enforcement stops a vehicle that you own, with a certain amount of drugs in it,they by law can seize that vehicle, That'swhy you get your car taken.
Or if you are letting people deal drugs from your property, you may lose your home when the case comes to court.
In my 20 years of serving as a sheriff's deputy I did not see anyone just taking what they wanted, not while I was there,like the newspaper says is happening.
Get the whole story told if you are going to tell it. Rolling Thunder is a good program to get drugs off the street. If you have drugs and a large amount of money, by law your money will be seized. A wall at the border will also help stop illegals and drugs from entering the United States.
Eddie Burgess
Greenville
Turn 'wonderful' Taken series into podcast
I just wanted to express deep appreciation for your series Taken.
Have you considered turning it into a podcast? It would get millions of listens, I am sure.
I grew up in Spartanburg,South Carolina, and left the South in disgust many years ago. I've returned to North Carolina and (am) actively involved in social justice. Shining a light on these inequities is so important to lifting up persons of color and highlighting implicit bias.
I can't thank you enough. It is a wonderful piece of investigative journalism, and I sincerely hope it gets picked up and turned into a podcast.
Anne Sherry
Asheville, NC
To stop property seizures, don't get involved with drug trafficking
I have a simple solution to most of the alleged improper police property seizures. Don't be involved in any way with drug trafficking.
I have never had a problem with police seizing my property. Maybe it has something to do with never being involved with illegal drugs. As far as I know, none of my family or friends have had police seize their property.
The police have probably made some mistakes in judgment (they are not perfect), but I am thankful for their work in the war against illegal drugs.
Pray for safety and good judgment for our law enforcement personnel. They have a difficult and much-needed job.
Rogers Eaves
Greenville
Our letters policy
Letters can be submitted to letters@greenvillenews.com. Letters are limited to 250 words and should be about topics of local interest. The Greenville News does not publish all letters it receives, and we reservethe right to edit letters for length and clarity. Above all, we try to promote a constructive dialogue in our conversations, both online and in print.
