Pubdate: Sun, 05 May 2002
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2002 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Thomas J. Lueck

PROPONENTS OF MARIJUANA STAGE PROTEST

An annual rite of protest by marijuana advocates resulted in 148 arrests 
yesterday as several thousand people gathered in Lower Manhattan for a 
march and rally.

The police said the demonstration, billed by its organizers as Million 
Marijuana March 2002, was peaceful. All arrests were for possession or use 
of marijuana, according to Officer Guy Braun, a police spokesman.

The crowd, which began gathering shortly after 1 p.m. at Houston Street and 
Broadway, grew to about 6,000 as it made its way down a single lane of 
Broadway to Battery Park, according to participants and some observers. The 
police declined to estimate the size of the crowd.

Although similar rallies have been staged for years in Manhattan, the one 
yesterday may have struck a nerve at City Hall, since Mayor Michael R. 
Bloomberg was prompted last month to say he regretted having mentioned in a 
interview that he had once tried marijuana and enjoyed it.

That remark, along with a photograph of the mayor, has been used in 
advertising by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, 
even though Mr. Bloomberg says he favors rigorous enforcement of marijuana 
laws.

The police deployed hundreds of officers at the rally and apparently had 
rigorous enforcement in mind, since many plainclothes officers were among 
the marchers. Repeatedly, officers led away individuals and groups of 
protesters who were seen smoking marijuana.

As the crowd moved slowly down Broadway, some protesters chanted "Bloomberg 
smokes pot" as they passed City Hall Park. By 4 p.m., most of the group had 
reached Battery Park, where they listened to music and speeches by people 
calling for decriminalization of marijuana.

Although most demonstrators were in their teens or 20's, several were 
veterans of such protests. "We won't stop marching until they legalize 
marijuana," said David Peel, an East Village musician in his 40's.

The rally ended at 6 p.m. when a column of over 200 police officers walked 
across Battery Park, forcing everyone to leave.
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