purplehaze67
Registered on
Apr-11-2003
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Message #444 posted by purplehaze67 (Info) August 03, 2005 23:48:56 ET
Cut n pasted straight from the MI-NORML list. If anyone
can make it out, your presence would be greatly
appreciated!
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OK folks, it looks like a GO. Tim and I have been playing
a bit of telephone tag this evening so we haven't spoken
today but I can say the following....
Several organizations are having their annual conferences
in Detroit Sept 14, 15 & 16, all with the common theme of
Substance Abuse. Then on Friday, Sept 16 the plan is that
they will all converge on Ford Field for the "Celebrate,
Educate, Motivate Rally," which is being billed as
Michigan's Largest Ever Anti-Drug Rally. At least one
organization has also planned a "Tailgate Breakfast/Media
Event" at 9:00 in Hart Plaza.
>From there they will have a "Recovery Walk" to Ford Field
in time for the C,E,M Rally. Here is the most
comprehensive link about the "Celebrate, Educate, Motivate"
Rally that I have found:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2941_4871-107508--,00.html
Sept 16 is the day for our rally, not the 15th. And it
will be at Hart Plaza and Ford Field, not Cobo. Other
than that, I got it right, lol
I have no idea how the rumor got started that His Emminence
John Walters may show up--I find absolutely no reference to
it anywhere in any of their propaganda or press releases.
On the other hand, can't say it won't happen. The Czar's
M.O. is to blow into town and then out again just as
quickly, before anyone can find out he is around and
organize a protest. The guy appears to be a major coward
if you ask me, he appears only before hand picked,
pre-screen audiences and never allows his opponents to
engage him directly. So it is anyone's guess whether
or not he'll be there.
We are going to start our own rally/demonstration at Hart
Plaza @ 9:00. From there we will join the Recovery Walk
(I'm sure they'll love that but, hey, it's a public
sidewalk) and move on down to Ford Field. We're going to
have to play it by ear once we get to the area of Ford
Field since apparently much of the surrounding area is
private property. Not sure how close we'll be able to
get, but I'm sure we can make ourselves visible & known.
The beauty here is that our opponents have already done
much of our work for us. They've sent out mega press
releases already and are sure to send out more. So all we
have to do is show up and we're sure to get press as well.
We are hoping to make this big! Very big. The original
thought was to focus on Medical MJ, in light of upcoming
local ballot initiatives as well as the polls that
consistently show that is the area where we have the most
support. With the recent arrest of Marc Emery however, we
are going to expand our focus. We are hoping to bring in a
sizable contingent of Canadians so that we can literally
stand shoulder to shoulder with them to show our
solidarity.
We are planning various acts of street theater--I've always
called it "clown terrorism" but I don't suppose that's a
good idea. We need props. I am looking for wheelchairs
and handcuffs. If anyone can bring them, please let me
know. And please, feel free to come up with your own
street theater. If you need some ideas, let me know.
Although it does look like I'll be coordinating this, per
usual for MI-NORML, "no one is in charge," so feel free to
do your own thing--with the exception of no smoke-in, no
publicly flaunting the law. Or on the other hand, go
ahead, just remember like I say, no one is in charge, so
don't point at me if you get busted ;-) ! I've got enough
problems now, hehehehehehe.
I have already begun contacting activists from surrounding
states and Canada. Please help me out here by contacting
everyone you can think of as well. Not just NORML but
SAFE, Students for Sensible Drug Policies, Drug Policy
Alliance, etc, etc, etc. Tim was going to post notices to
ARO and Rev Steve is posting to the NORML affiliates list
and THC Ministries, among others. Spread the word. This
is being billed as Michigan's Largest Ever Anti-Drug Rally.
We thought about billing ours as Michigan's Largest Ever
Anti-War on Drugs Rally but decided to hold off until we
see what kind of response we get. We can always say to the
media that will be there that day, this IS Michigan's
Largest Ever Anti-War on Drugs Rally, no need to say it
ahead of time
If you can participate in only one MI-NORML event this
year, this would be the one. I've already heard from
activists in Canada, Ohio and even California expressing
interest.
Sept 16, 9:00 a.m. Hart Plaza. 12:00 noon, Ford Field
(area). Social hour/after party TBA (but there will be
one)
Please e-mail if you have any questions. Pass it on. Hope
to see you there.
Greg F
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