cannabisnews.com: Friends Remember Rainbow Farm





Friends Remember Rainbow Farm
Posted by CN Staff on September 02, 2003 at 07:32:45 PT
By Adam Jackson, Tribune Staff Writer 
Source: South Bend Tribune 
Cassopolis -- There's something to be said for having friends. They're there to provide support when it's needed. They don't point fingers and judge. And, as a group of friends of the late Grover "Tom" Crosslin and Rolland "Rollie" Rohm proved Monday, they'll stand on the sidewalk in a driving rain to make sure people don't forget.More than 20 supporters of the former owners of the Rainbow Farm Campground braved the soggy afternoon to stand outside the Cass County Courthouse, hoisting placards and waving tie-dyed flags in observance of the second anniversary of a lethal standoff at the Vandalia campground that left both Rohm, 28, and Crosslin, 46, dead of police-inflicted gunshot wounds.
To people like Melody Karr of Mesick, Mich., the two died defending something they believed in. And that, she said, is reason enough to make sure their sacrifice is not forgotten."We need to do this every year," she said, holding a yellow sign that proclaimed Rohm and Crosslin "casualties" of a war on drugs. "Tom and Rollie were good people -- not the animals the police made them out to be."As outspoken activists for legalizing the currently illegal use of marijuana, Crosslin and Rohm were known for the pro-legalization festivals they held at the 37-acre campground, which was owned by Crosslin. They attracted thousands of visitors, and often featured bands, speakers and other attractions.But the festivals also attracted the attention of law enforcement officials, who alleged that there was rampant drug use and sales at the events. Using undercover surveillance and other techniques, police were eventually able to gather enough evidence to file criminal drug charges against both menThe situation eventually escalated to the point that the campground was threatened with possible seizure, and both men were facing possible prison time. And that, many believe, is what drove them to barricade themselves in the campground on Labor Day weekend 2001, then begin to systematically burn buildings on the property.After a helicopter from WNDU-TV of South Bend took rifle fire while flying over the campground, FBI officials and Michigan State Police units blocked off the property and began maintaining a 24-hour surveillance.After four days of a tense standoff, Crosslin was killed Sept. 3, 2001, by an FBI sharpshooter, after reportedly pointing a rifle at him while walking to a neighboring home for food.Rohm was killed the next day, after setting the farmhouse he shared with Crosslin on fire and heading into an open area behind the home. Michigan State Police troopers in an armored vehicle moved in to arrest him, but he was shot when he reportedly raised a rifle and aimed it at the vehicle.Since that time, friends of both men, regular Rainbow Farm visitors and even those who just believed in the legal reform they were fighting for, have held rallies, vigils and remembrances in support of two men they say died needlessly.But not in vain."The (legalization) movement is growing stronger," Larry Lippert, Michigan director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said. "We're growing, and I believe that you will see some things really start to happen in 2004."I believe (Crosslin and Rohm) helped to make that happen."In Cassopolis on Monday, passing cars, their occupants warm and dry, honked and waved or flashed the peace sign at the soaked supporters on the corner. The high ratio of cheers to jeers brought smiles to the faces of those in attendance, as they remembered Crosslin, Rohm and the fun times spent at what, by most accounts, was a special campground.Note: Two years later, supporters rally, look for meaning in deaths of men.Source: South Bend Tribune (IN)Author: Adam Jackson, Tribune Staff Writer Published: September 2, 2003 Copyright: 2003 South Bend TribuneContact: vop sbtinfo.comWebsite: http://www.southbendtribune.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Remembering Tom and Rolliehttp://www.rainbowfarmcamp.comTom & Rollie Memorial Pagehttp://www.freedomtoexhale.com/rb.htmSiege At Rainbow Farmhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17211.shtmlFatal Ending: Vandalia Standoff Claims 2nd Lifehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10827.shtmlFBI Agent Kills Rainbow Farm Ownerhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10809.shtml 
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Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on September 02, 2003 at 08:55:00 PT
Rampant drug use in Michigan
I'll bet those cops spent a lot of time at the local bar tossing back shots and beers discussing the dangers of all that rampant drug use at the campground, before they pick up some self-destructive women for some dysfunctional alcoholic adulterous sex.Then they probably talked about all that rampant drug use again when they watched the Superbowl over a few kegs of beer.And then in the morning while they gorged themselves on caffeine and Krispy Kremes at work.Those drug users are so unhealthy, why look at how skinny and muscular they are.We can see the police are role models for a healthy lifestyle by the love handles spilling over their too-tight pants and the paunches hanging over their gun belts and their domestic violence convictions and the hookers they hang out with.Gee we must all really be demented to be resisting the influence of such fine social role models.
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on September 02, 2003 at 07:42:07 PT
spin
"hoisting placards and waving tie-dyed flags in observance of the second anniversary of a lethal standoff at the Vandalia campground that left both Rohm, 28, and Crosslin, 46, dead of police-inflicted gunshot wounds."police inflicted gunshot wounds? You mean, KILLED BY POLICE? 
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