Vivian McPeak leads a group of Seattle artists, musicians and activists on a pro-hemp crusade
Vivian McPeak leads a group of Seattle artists, musicians and
activists on a pro-hemp crusade
| Artists, musicians and activists in over 100
cities world-wide gathered yesterday, as May 6th, 2000 was celebrated the Millenium
Marijuana March, which marked the largest organized rally for the pro-hemp movement in the
history of the world. In Seattle, a group of several thousand, assembled for a peaceful protest for the legalization of medical marijuana, and the release of drug-war prisoners in the United States. According to Seattle march coordinator Vivian McPeak, "The morally unlawful and intolerable human rights abuses and violations that have resulted from this failed "war" are greater than the destruction caused by all drug use in America. Don't be afraid to stand up and be counted...or someday you may have to lay down to be counted. It's better to fall for what you believe in than to stand for nothing, at least that's the way we see it. As Bob said..."Get up, Stand up for your rights". In August of 1999, HotBands.com covered the Seattle Hempfest which included 55 of the top Seattle area bands on 4 stages. The Hempfest coordinators were also responsible for the Seattle chapter of the Millenium Marijuana March, which is an international event endorsed by Norml, the ACLU and others. The Seattle police were on hand in case there were any problems, and I was able to speak with a couple of them in depth regarding their role, how they felt about the drug war, etc. It was clear that they had no intent or desire for problems, and although they wouldn't and couldn't condone open public use of marijuana, instead of arresting violators, they told them to leave the park premises. "It isn't our desire to bust pot-smokers" said one officer. "My job is to enforce the law, and the current Seattle law, voted in by the majority of people clearly indicates that they don't want open use of marijuana, and we treat it just as if it were an open bottle of beer. I personally feel that the police, the state and the federal government should stay out of people's privacy and homes, and we would rather be chasing real criminals, but until the laws are changed, we have to do what we are paid for." Overall, the weather cooperated, I made the march, and the
police did an excellent job of directing traffic, there were no busts or citations issued,
and the message was delivered to the city of Seattle. If you participated in the march, please write us at editor@hotbands.com and let us know what city you were from, how many participated in your city and if there were any local musicians/bands in the march. Also, if you have photos from the march in your area, give us a link to your page and we'll put it up along with your comments.
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Reader's Comments I went to the Austin rally. There was like 1000 people. The cops were very laid back. - Trickster - Loke E. Coyote --------------------------------- Another great event. Thanks for being there. - Paul Standford CRRH is working to regulate and tax the sale of cannabis to
adults like ---------------------------------
--------------------------------- Pics from the NYC March by A. Michael Piper --------------------------------- Hi Patrick, I attended the pitiful excuse for a rally in Madison Wis. These people blackballed my band The Inside from playing at Weedstock here on Memorial Day weekend. I even happen to be an Ex-POW of the drug war. They dissed a brother! They seem to have a problem with my band because we usually play for money. I asked one of those hippies if they would give me some reefer for nothing! They said the sacred herb was $100 a quarter! Well I hope your reefer rallies are a little more genuine than the sorry dead head crap we have here. Take care; John Michaels --------------------------------- I was at the march in Portland, Oregon. It was fantastic to see so many people gathered together. We will very likely have the initiative on the ballot in Oregon this fall to legalize. of course, we already have medical marijuana and the grass here is some of the best anywhere, hands down (not that i would know from personal experience) ;) legalize weed!! "Thanks for visiting Oregon. Now leave." --------------------------------- There should be a Million Marijuana March more than once a year, more like once a week!!!!!!! Let's see if we can't start having them more often, I am going to try to get something together for december time of year in Houston area :-) --------------------------------- |
