Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jul 2001
Source: Tulia Herald (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Tulia Herald
Contact:  115 S. Austin Ave, Tulia TX 79088
Phone: 806-995-3535
Fax: 806-995-3536
Author: Chris Russett
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/tulia.htm (Tulia, Texas)
Note: Transcribed from print edition by Alan Bean. Please view the superb 
Tulia video at http://www.soros.org:8080/ramgen/tlc/tulia.rm

CONNER PARK RALLY AND DEMONSTRATION IS PEACEFUL

Conner Park in Tulia was the place used Sunday evening by national 
organizations working to legalize drugs, and to stop the war on drugs in 
the United States.

Saying their objective is drug policy reform, Mothers of the Disappeared 
spokesperson Mazinova Varick of New York City said that treatment was the 
answer to the drug problem.

She refused to acknowledge a difference between the criminal element 
dealing drugs to support its habit by addicting young children, and others 
who do not sell drugs, though they use them. She felt all should be treated 
the same, with very short sentences and through treatment centers. She said 
a two year sentence was a very long sentence.

Kevin Zeese, president of Common Sense for Drug Policy, of Washington, 
D.C., advocated legalization of drugs.

Others contended that the war on drugs is racist because of the number of 
blacks caught up in the legal system.

Although national organizations dominated the speaker's rostrum, several 
local people spoke, too.

One of the local speakers focused his comments more on racial justice than 
on drugs. Ed Watters of Tulia spoke toward racial discrimination in general.

"It should not be a crime to be born black," he said.

Alan Bean was given a plaque recognizing his efforts with the self-styled 
"Friends of Justice."

At 12:20 a.m. Monday the group arrived at the courthouse square, having 
marched up Broadway from the park. They conducted a candlelight vigil to 
show support for those convicted on drug charges.

Kevin Zeese is quoted on the November Coalition website: "Vigils are 
something that can be done in every city. We need to show that the 
injustice of the drug war is not only impacting those incarcerated but also 
their friends and families. People gathering in public to highlight the 
harms of drug war policies is a visible way to urge an end to the drug war."

The November Coalition is an organization composed of prisoners, their 
families, and other sympathizers, according to their "About Us" website page.

Estimates of the number attending were from 150 to 250 people. Many of 
those in attendance were not from Swisher County, but were brought to Tulia 
from Austin in two chartered buses, which leaders termed a "Freedom Ride."

The crowd was peaceful and there were no reports of disturbances.

A picture of Kevin Zeese accompanies the article with the caption, "Kevin 
Zeese of Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C., was a speaker at 
the Never Again Rally and is a proponent of drug legalization.

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Cited websites:

November Coalition http://www.november.org/

The Friends of Justice http://www.drugsense.org/foj

Common Sense For Drug Policy www.csdp.org
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