cannabisnews.com: Mayor Lays Down the Law on Drugs Mayor Lays Down the Law on Drugs Posted by FoM on May 28, 2001 at 07:43:22 PT By Jacob Santini, The Salt Lake Tribune Source: Salt Lake Tribune Two years removed from a near riot that brought dozens of police officers wielding batons and tear gas to Liberty Park, Mayor Rocky Anderson was back promising to enforce drug laws inside the park. At the center of the drug turmoil is the drum circle. The crowd -- in the hundreds -- that gathers during the Sunday circle is a diverse group of families, teens and even homeless people who dance and picnic to the incessant thumping of the drums. But there are those, police say, smoking marijuana or using and selling various other drugs. The drug users are the ones police want to deal with. Sunday afternoon, Anderson, accompanied by his chief of police and another senior officer, told the drum circle particcipants that drug use within the park, and the circle, would not be tolerated. Recent reports allege police officers were unwilling to cite or arrest drug users inside the circle for fear of sparking a melee similar to one that ended with officers clearing the park April 18, 1999. "We don't want something like that happening again," said Chief Rick Dinse. "We want people to know there's no place, even inside the drum circle, that's outside the law." In April 1999, more than 50 officers decked out in riot gear cleared the drum circle from the park. Before the clearing, a near riot erupted as two undercover officers arrested a man selling drugs near the circle. As they tried to make the arrest, the man reportedly asked the crowd to help him. The crowd then "closed in" on the two. As the two officers left, the crowd reportedly followed. The Salt Lake Police Department's SWAT team was called in to clear the drum circle from the park. There were allegations people were throwing rocks at the officers and that officers beat three people on the legs with batons during the incident. In all, 20 people were arrested. At the time, Anderson, in the midst of a heated mayoral campaign, publicly criticized police Chief Ruben Ortega for the force used. Anderson eventually vowed to fire Ortega. Before Anderson took office, then-Mayor Deedee Corradini fired Ortega to guarantee the police chief a full severance package. Two years after the riot, Anderson and Dinse were met by the same tensions and strong opposition from the scores already in the park waiting for the drumming to begin. Quickly after entering the park, the pair were engulfed by a circle of pro- testers. As they attempted to tell of stronger police presence and hope for cooperation, angry members of the crowd confronted Anderson not only about freedom but with Anderson's own view of marijuana. In August 2000, Anderson publicly suggested the decriminalization of marijuana deserves serious consideration as a rational approach to fighting drugs. Anderson acknowledged during his campaign that he had used marijuana as a young man. Sunday, Anderson refused to argue the issue of legalizing marijuana with the crowd. "We do have laws and we have to enforce them," Anderson said. "Who have we hurt here in this park," one woman cried. Another man arguing with Anderson said, "I used to like you, Rocky." "People just can't be violating the law. I stuck up for you two years ago. I took a lot of heat from the police for that," Anderson said. As for the supposed drug problem surrounding the drum circle, police say it's not that bad. The majority of drum circle participants are there to have fun, not buy and sell drugs, Dinse said. Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)Author: Jacob Santini, The Salt Lake Tribune Published: Monday, May 28, 2001 Copyright: 2001 The Salt Lake TribuneContact: letters sltrib.comWebsite: http://www.sltrib.com/Related Articles:Grant Drug Offenders Clemency, Rocky Says http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8341.shtmlRocky Drug Stance Ires Utah Demoshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6742.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on May 28, 2001 at 16:45:29 PT How to stop an arrest David Malmo Levine's recent show on rally do's and dont's had a very useful tip. If you see someone getting arrested, and you don't think they should be, go up to them and hug them, and don't let go. Makes me wish all marijuana arrests could be made in a crowd of friendly people... High Society: Rally Do's & Don'ts [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Lehder on May 28, 2001 at 16:26:41 PT drum circle As they tried to make the arrest, the man reportedlyasked the crowd to help him. The crowd then "closed in" on the two. As the two officers left, the crowd reportedly followed.too many good, productive, loving and peaceful people have been oppressed by the brutal, ignorant and hateful for far too long. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by ekim on May 28, 2001 at 12:29:39 PT: Cannabis Cup MarijuanaNews.Com, Freedom has nothing to fear from the truth ... Stories Music Recipes Places and People Movies kewl Links M.Com Success Stories M.Com F.A.Q.'S New Discussion Request Invite Only More About The Cannabis College In Amsterdam (Ed. note: While I was in Amsterdam I did my web site updates from The Cannabis College. It is now being run by my old friend ...http://www.marijuananews.com/more_about_the_cannabis_college_.htm , 31555 bytes MarijuanaNews.Com, Freedom has nothing to fear from the truth ... Stories Music Recipes Places and People Movies kewl Links M.Com Success Stories M.Com F.A.Q.'S New Discussion Request Invite Only More About The Cannabis College In Amsterdam (Ed. note: While I was in Amsterdam I did my web site updates from The Cannabis College. It is now being run by my old friend ...http://www.marijuananews.com/marijuananews/cowan/more_about_the_cannabis_college_.htm , 31532 bytes [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by lookinside on May 28, 2001 at 09:39:07 PT: a breath of freedom... i'm looking into attending the cannabis cup this year...mywife is an MMJ user and being waaaay too underexposedmyself, it will be fun to burn a few dozen without fear...anybody been there/done that?...comments, stories please... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on May 28, 2001 at 07:59:47 PT The Lawwwww [In August 2000, Anderson publicly suggested the decriminalization of marijuana deserves serious consideration as a rational approach to fighting drugs.]Not a bad idea, there's some hope for this guy.[Sunday, Anderson refused to argue the issue of legalizing marijuana with the crowd. "We do have laws and we have to enforce them," Anderson said.]Beware the stupids that hide behind stupid laws. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: