cannabisnews.com: DrugSense Weekly, September 15, 2000 # 166 DrugSense Weekly, September 15, 2000 # 166 Posted by FoM on September 15, 2000 at 15:24:45 PT DrugSense's Weekly News Update Source: DrugSense "Journey for Justice" to Highlight Drug War Injustice Activists Call for a Cease Fire in the War on Drugs. Journey for Justice, a caravan of family members of drug war prisoners, medical marijuana patients and their supporters, will travel through central Texas from September 22-29th. The tour will include vigils, street theater and rallies at key locations (see highlights) that highlight various aspects of America's failed war on drugs. For more details see: http://www.JourneyForJustice.org/While both George W. Bush and Al Gore are doing whistle stop tours of their own, advocates of drug law reform will be talking about the issues the candidates refuse to face; the hypocrisy of the drug war, the racially unfair enforcement of drug laws, the erosion of civil liberties and the massive government spending associated with blanket prohibition. The Journey seeks to break the candidates silence on alternatives to punitive policies. This Journey, an echo of the Freedom Rides of the Civil Rights era, is a roving caravan – a moving theatre. Costumed "prisoners" and "police" will dramatize the abuses by guards and law enforcement, as a patient in a wheelchair rides in a moving prison cell. The caravan will be a visually stirring portrayal of the issues affecting American families. We will be highlighting three critical aspects of the drug war: the over-incarceration of non-violent drug offenders, police and prison guard abuse in the drug war and the need for safe access to medical marijuana by the seriously ill.Even though the Journey is a challenge to both Vice President Gore and Governor Bush to discuss the need for new drug policies during the presidential campaign, the Journey is occurring in Texas because Texas highlights what is wrong with the US drug policy. The state recently became the nation's incarceration leader and 21% of the Texas prison inmates are non-violent drug offenders.The Journey encourages everyone to ask tough questions of all the candidates on Drug Policy issues. "While public officials admit to and the media jokes about youthful indiscretions, thousands of Americans who are now imprisoned have lost property, the right to vote and have been fired from their jobs, said Journey Director Kay Lee. "To them this is no joke.""The drug war has damaged and destroyed millions of Americans, the credibility of our representatives, and the future of our children," continued Lee. Daily Updates of the Journey Will Be Available Already a columnist in the Houston Chronicle has noted that the Journey for Justice is coming to Texas. But we don't know what kind of press reaction to expect. When the first Freedom Rides occurred during the Civil Rights era only three publications - all from the African American press covered them. We have the Internet and I will be providing DrugSense and other outlets with a daily report on the Journey for Justice. DrugSense will be distributing these updates widely. You are encouraged to distribute them to others, particularly the media. We want this to build until its climax in front of the Govenor's mansion.Be Part of History:What Would You Have Paid to Be Part of the Freedom Rides or the March on Selma? We need your help to make the Journey a success - be a part of history by joining us in Austin on September 29 for our march from the Capitol to the Governor's mansion. You can get inexpensive tickets on Southwest Airlines or by searching the net. Money is also still needed. Funds are needed for gas and food for the Journeyers. Any level of support will be appreciated. You can make a tax deductible donation to Drug Policy Forum of Texas to support the Journey. Their address is: 1425 Blaylock Road, Suite 109, Houston, TX 77055.Highlights for the Journey for JusticePress conferences will be held:Friday, September 22nd at 12:30 pm at Tranquility Park in Houston (near the Smith and Rusk entrance) Marchers parade through Houston starting at the Harris County Justice Center calling attention to the racial disparity of the drug war. Harris County's population is 18.2% black, yet blacks make up over 60% of all drug arrests. Sunday, September 24th at 3:00pm at the Federal Women's Correctional Facility on Ursiline Rd. in Bryan This year the US prison population reached the 2 million mark, making us the world leader. The Journey will stand at the Female Correctional Facility as women make up the fastest growing segment of the prison population. An afternoon vigil is scheduled to coincide with prison vigils happening around the country. Friday, September 29th at 12 noon at the Capitol Building in Austin near Congress Avenue People from around the country will be joining the final miles at the conclusion of the march. Hundreds are expected to fill the streets of Austin - concluding at the Governor's mansion at 5:00 pm - demanding an end to the devastating effects of the drug war on the fabric of American families. By Kevin B. Zeese, President, Common Sense for Drug Policy: http://www.csdp.org/ Click the link to read all of DrugSense Weekly's News:DrugSense Weekly, September 15, 2000 # 166http://www.drugsense.org/dsw/2000/ds00.n166.htmlCannabisNews MapInc. Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/MAP.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by eco2 on September 17, 2000 at 01:13:41 PT Kay Lee messages in PUBLIC list archive. There are many Kay Lee messages in the PUBLIC list archive below:NEW WEB ADDRESS for: *DRUG WAR NEWS. Mailing list, & online list ARCHIVE. Messages, links, etc. about CHARTS, MMM, prison brutality, and many aspects of the cannabis and drug wars. Anybody (including non-subscribers) can click "messages" button to see the latest ones. Monthly archives, too. A "POST" button at link below. Unsubscribe there, too. Click "subscribe" button to join. Info, description, links:NEW URL: http://www.egroups.com/group/drugwarnews [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Eddie Smith on September 16, 2000 at 07:06:44 PT: J4J4 J4J4 promises to be the largest Journey to date!After J4J3 in Florida I was left with with an inner peace and a sense of true patriotism that cannot be described or ignored!I cannot wait to take on Texas!! If you have not yet commited to journey with us,then do it now!! YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!! Love & peace, Eddie Smith [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by nl5x on September 16, 2000 at 01:03:07 PT the link is now down maybe they will replay it on cspan this weekend. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by nl5x on September 16, 2000 at 00:41:43 PT thanx for the link fom part one has been great so far,well besides janet reno. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 15, 2000 at 18:21:21 PT: Important E-Mail News! From HOT OFF THE 'NET in the DrugSense Weekly at:http://www.drugsense.org/dsw/2000/ds00.n166.html#sec3 The Drug War Congressional Black Caucus Washington, District of Columbia (United States)Zeese, Kevin, Vice President, Drug Policy FoundationMauer, Marc, Director, Sentencing ProjectElders, Joycelyn, Surgeon General (Fmr.), Department of Health & Human ServicesHuffington, Arianna S., Chair, Center for Effective CompassionReno, Janet, Attorney General, Department of JusticePanelists discuss issues such as alternative sentencing, substance abuse treatment, felony re-entry programs, and disparate incarceration.View a 90 minute streaming media clip at CSPAN The link is under "Today's Feature: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation: Judiciary Braintrust ... Watch Session 1"http://www.cspan.org/Session 1 starts at:http://video.c-span.org:8080/ramgen/ndrive/e091500_cbcf1.rm?end=1:30:29.0Catch it before it goes away....Richard [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: