
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 9, 1991                   TAG: 9102090254
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: PORTLAND, ORE.                                LENGTH: Short

ATHLETIC-GROUP LEADER CHARGED WITH SLAVERY

The founder of the Ecclesia Athletic Association, a religious group that advocated strict discipline for training children, was arrested Friday on civil rights and involuntary servitude charges. Eldridge Broussard Jr. and seven of his followers were named in a 30-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Portland.

The indictment accuses the members of forcing children under age 16 to be part of an "exhibition team" that participated in long-distance running and other forms of exercise. Broussard, a former college basketball player, founded Ecclesia to teach youngsters to survive in the Watts district of Los Angeles through discipline and academic training. - Associated Press

by CNB