by Joseph Sobran

About the author: Joseph Sobran is a syndicated columnist.

The alleged police torture of a Haitian immigrant in August 1997 has New York City in an uproar, complete with a protest march and the arrival of Johnnie Cochran to offer legal assistance to the victim.

Though some details are in dispute, nobody is defending what the police in the case are said to have done, for the simple reason that it was indefensible— and extremely repulsive. The Haitian, Abner Louima, had the handle of a toilet plunger shoved into his rectum and then into his mouth. His injuries were serious; so was his degradation.

The case was further inflamed by the racial angle. The cops are said to have used racial epithets while torturing him.

No wonder so many people are outraged. And no wonder...