Fond Memories of Rainbow |
Posted by FoM on September 08, 2001 at 09:44:01 PT By Adam Jackson, Staff Writer Source: South Bend Tribune Scores of mourners grieve the deaths of Rainbow Farm Campground owner Grover "Tom" Crosslin and his friend, Rolland Rohm. Crosslin, 46, died Monday after he was shot by FBI agents stationed around the campground. Rohm, 28, met a similar fate when a Michigan state trooper shot him Tuesday. Authorities said both men were brandishing guns at law-enforcement officials when they were killed. But in the hearts and minds of those mourners, the two men and the ideals they stood for live on, along with the fond memories they have of the 34-acre campground which served, some say, as a gathering spot for those promoting harmony, trust and friendship. On the drive leading into the campground, which is located at 59896 Pemberton Road, family, friends and supporters of the two men and their way of life gathered Friday to keep a vigil over the property. Against a backdrop of burned buildings and an American flag flying upside-down at half-staff, they recounted the good times they had at the campground and their frustration at the way the recent five-day standoff at the property ended. "I only ever had a chance to come here to stay one time," the Rev. Steven Thompson said. "And as soon as I drove in, I felt like I had come home." Thompson, who serves as the director for the Benzie County chapter of the National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said he attended the "Whee 2000" festival in July 2000 not only for pleasure, but also to help drum up support for the Michigan Personal Responsibility Amendment, a movement to decriminalize the personal use of marijuana and legalize the growing of industrial hemp plants for use in cloth, paper and other manufactured products. And he admitted that he and his friends had smoked marijuana while at the festival. But he firmly denied allegations brought up by law-enforcement authorities of the sale of drugs, use of hard drugs, and sexual acts out in the open. "I saw absolutely none of those things," Thompson recounted Friday. "What I saw was people enjoying themselves in a safe and friendly atmosphere." Others who gathered at the campground Friday spoke of a place where the words loneliness, helplessness and hunger were not part of visitors' vocabulary. One man, who identified himself as Cass County resident Buzz Daily, said Rainbow Farm regulars and visitors alike were always willing to lend everything from a hand to a ham sandwich to anyone in need at a festival. "No one ever went hungry or got cold; everyone was always happy to share with you," he said. "You could leave everything out at your campsite when you were walking around, and no one would steal it. "People could trust each other." When minor problems did arise, campground officials were quick to speak to the friends of the problematic person, said Daily, a Rainbow Farm regular and festival volunteer worker. That alone was usually enough to defuse the situation before it got out of hand. "I never saw any brawls or drunken behavior," he said. "Everybody was peaceful. They were just there to have fun." And from what Maurice Williams saw, that's how it was at Rainbow Farm from the campground's beginning in 1993 to last weekend's standoff. Williams, a now-retired 40-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was the person who sold the land to Crosslin in 1993, and developed a friendship with him that lasted throughout the years of the operation of the campground. "Oh, I came up here to visit all the time," he said. "Crosslin always made up a place for me to stay in the house. "I was a VIP," he laughed. Williams, who still lives in Chicago, said he leased the land to sharecroppers for more than 40 years. He said he intended to retire there, but decided to sell the land to Crosslin instead. But he still loved the rolling fields and natural setting of the plot, and tried to come back for weekends and festivals. "There were plenty of people out there, but the only problem I ever saw was the mosquitoes," said Williams, who drove out to the campground to chat with supporters Friday. "We used to call them 'gallonippers,' because when they nipped you they'd take a gallon." The mosquitoes are still there, and likely will be long into the future. But the future of Rainbow Farm is not known. A civil forfeiture proceeding initiated last spring against the property is still ongoing, which means the land may still be seized from Crosslin's family. Some, like Thompson, believe that Rainbow Farm will live on through increased awareness of what they say is the folly of enforcing laws that prevent people from enjoying personal freedom on their private property. "They've martyred Tom and Rollie," Thompson said. "I hope this wakes people up to what the government is doing." Others, like mourner Jeff Schifler, say that no matter what the future brings, the end of the old Rainbow Farm Campground will always leave a hollow spot in supporters' souls. "I tried to spend every summer there," he said. "Rainbow Farm was my home." Funeral services: Visitation and funeral services will be held this morning for Grover T. "Tom" Crosslin, who was killed Monday by police during a five-day standoff at the Rainbow Farm Campground in Vandalia. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. EST at the Walley-Mills-Zimmerman Funeral Home and Crematory, 700 E. Jackson Blvd., Elkhart. Funeral services will begin at the same location immediately following visitation.Visitation services for Rolland Rohm, who was shot and killed by police in the same standoff Tuesday, will be held at the same location from 3 to 8 p.m. EST on Monday, with funeral services, also at the same location, scheduled for Tuesday beginning at 2 p.m. Note: Supporters recall slain pair, their ideals and good times. Newshawk: Mr. Greengenes Related Articles & Web Sites: PRAyes.com Rainbow Farm Campground Tom Crosslin & Rolland Rohm Memorial Rainbow Farms Standoff Sparks Talk, Opinions Cannabis News Articles - Tom Crosslin Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
Comment #7 posted by sm247 on September 09, 2001 at 03:19:28 PT |
Dark clouds over Rainbow Farm Our god now is frowning Thunder in the distance our founding fathers rolling turning in their graves Lightning flashes across bloody dripping skies shots heard around the world Everyone asking why rain is falling down a million hearts broken two souls heaven bound heros dying with their boots on not only for the ground they roamed for a son taken from their home not to mention the holy herb seeded by our father.. creater forbidden by the powers that be where there is no justice there can be no peace but for a change comes a release forgivness a matter of question time has come for blessing breaking of the bread partaking of the fruit down on Rainbow Farm
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Comment #6 posted by mr.greengenes on September 08, 2001 at 17:14:52 PT |
Why is it the media only gives a couple of sentences of Rainbow Farms purpose? Here is their full purpose statement for those who haven't seen it. Our Purpose Rainbow Farm supports the medical, spiritual, and responsible recreational Above all we support FREEDOM in America. We have seen the erosion of our We educate and inform people about the beneficial and responsible uses of We call on all responsible citizens to do their part in bringing an end to Rainbow Farm DOES NOT promote the use of illicit drugs by anyone, nor do we [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 08, 2001 at 13:09:31 PT |
Correction: US MI: Rainbow Farm - What Others Are Saying This is also online at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01.n1653.a11.html In my previous post I left out the FEAR item; however, it is in the on line version. While details are still unclear, it seems that a good number of activists will be at the Farm for the memorial service on the 15th. I have had notes form east coast reform leaders about going, and just had a call from a retired LEO from the Detroit area who would like to pick me up to attend. More when I know more. Here it is: From Forfeiture Endangers American Rights http://www.fear.org/ekomp1.html [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #4 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on September 08, 2001 at 12:37:46 PT:
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This point made in the article tell me one mor reason the FBI was involved, and these men had to be terminated:] **"No one ever went hungry or got cold; everyone was always happy to share with you," he said. "You could leave everything out at your campsite when you were walking around, and no one would steal it. "People could trust each other."**
Seriously, again, Its protection of capitalism via suppression of a powerful renewable resource, coupled with a near-fascist national drive to both demonize cannabis smokers, and reap a profit via forfietures. I understand that Donald Scott's Widow has finally been screwed out of thier land after they did the same damn thing to him in 1992. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 08, 2001 at 11:31:00 PT |
So that the email would fit I had to cut out the actual article from Cannabis Culture but the link is right here. US MI: Rainbow Farm - What Others Are Saying
~~~~~ From The Week Online with DRCNet http://www.drcnet.org/wol/202.html#rainbowfarm
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Comment #2 posted by Patrick on September 08, 2001 at 10:57:24 PT |
I couldn't agree more! I am glad to hear that you no longer have to fear the police. Others in our land are not so lucky. They say smoking da herb can cause paranoia. Well after ya witness a Memorial Day Massacre/Murder, it ain't no wonder cannabis lovers everywhere are paranoid. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #1 posted by Cannabis Dave on September 08, 2001 at 10:29:13 PT |
If the herb wasn't illegal, then they couldn't of seized their farm and child. How many more people are going to die before we change the absurd law that makes a healing herb illegal: especially considering tobaccol and alcohol are not only tolerated, but subsidized by the government - talk about hypocrisy! Besides tobacco and alcohol, prescription drugs are abused way more and cause far more deaths than all illegal drugs combined, but they are protected by the big pharmaceautical companies - an example is the "Oxycontin" epidemic now sweeping our country. Methadone clinics are now seeing more new clients addicted to oxycontin rather than heroin in some places, but that company (which makes most of its profits from oxycontin) has a powerful lobby. Cannabis continues to be banned completely in most places, and our government spends endless billions fighting a hopeless war against its own citizens, fueling the prison/industrial complex. I hope a lot of people go to their funerals - I wish I could go, but I'm in Portland, Oregon. We will have a vigil for them here too though. I am a medical marijuana patient in this state, so I don't have to worry about the cops anymore. I respect the cops in this city much more now that I don't have to worry about them arresting me for my medicine - I even invited them in to see my medicinal garden one time when they were here on a different matter. How nice it is knowing I can count on them to protect me from rip-offs now, rather than fearing them like I used to. How sad it is that someone in another state doing the same thing can have their property and possessions confiscated, and even have their children ripped out of their arms because of cannabis. How absurd it is that our government does that to its own citizens over a healing herb that happens to be the most valuable plant on the planet: that is precisely WHY they continue to wage their war against cannabis - the ban is really all about them fearing the economic potential of hemp. Read "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" for an enlightened look at cannabis hemp. Get involved in organizations locally to help make it legal - cannabis/hemp can save the planet if we let it! If a cop had been killed, they would have gotten front page news and a parade. The media is playing down what happened, but we can't let them do that. Most people want to see cannabis hemp legalized, and we need to get together to make it happen. These murders will just help our cause in the long run, but I expect the pigs to continue killing people over cannabis even though it ultimately hurts them - I never accused them of being intelligent. If they were intelligent they wouldn't be enforcing an unholy law against a healing herb that can save the planet. [ Post Comment ] |
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