From: "ramillegan"
Date: Sun, 05 May 2002  


Three hundred to 400 people marched in the streets of Eugene, and over 500 people joined in at the rally for Eugene's Third
Annual Peace March against the Drug War held Saturday May 4th.

This event was part of a worldwide protest that happened in 198 cities.

The day was a beautiful sunny day with some breeze that at times wafted the weed through the crowd of courageous,
concerned citizens.

The march began at 24th and Amazon Parkway where supporters gathered informally and listened to music and were
treated to a free barbecue prepared on ecological-friendly hydrogen grills. People prepared signs with various slogans to
carry or were able to choose from the many pre-made placards.
There were people of all ages including many families with children. Some folks wore costumes and there was even a
human powered parade float.

Marchers left Amazon Park along the bike path and hit the streets at 19th Avenue where we picked up our paid City of Eugene police escort. The police were quite surprised at the size of our crowd. An officer had come up to 24th Avenue gathering place about 15 minutes before the march began and there were about 125 folks there then. Well, in the last few minutes, it was just amazing, people just started arriving from every direction and soon we had a crowd of over three hundred people as we left the park. Because of the size of the crowd the police gave us the whole street to march in instead of regulating us to just one lane as in years past.

Along they way we gathered more people and had myriad number of car horns in support. A very emotional moment was
when the marchers reached 11th Avenue and Brother Elisha, who walks with a cane joined to lead the marchers on down the street.

Amid clapping and cheers the marchers proceeded through the Saturday Market and onto the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza at the Lane County Couthouse. Marchers were greeted by the band, The Thirteenth Tribe playing a rousing version of Peter Tosh's Get-Up Stand-Up and Legalize-it.

During the rally folks heard from many different people, including Richard Alevizos, who is running for Governor on a pro-hemp platform, testimony from medical marijuana users and verses from the Bible among others.

After the speakers, Abakadubi played a joyous, tight two-hour set to a very appreciative crowd.

A big message from the rally was to sign the various petitions and vote and liberate the plant.

Another theme of the rally was the arrest of "Danbo" a local Cannabis activist by six armed police earlier in the day. Dan has
been expressing to the police his views on the unconstitutional nature of the Drug War and has been very open about his
freedom as a citizen to have relationship with a plant that comes from God.

This was a "power-trip" by the members of the Eugene police force. They knew where Dan lived. If all they wished to do was to arrest him that could have been done anytime. This arrogance and misuse of police power may come cost the City of Eugene dearly. 

 
From: allan:
 
Date: Sun, 05 May 2002 -  from DPFOR list

Wohoo!

What a great day for a Million Marijuana March here in Eugene. I haven't read the news report yet but I guesstimate the crowd was around 600-800 folks by the time we reached downtown.

A beautiful day and enthusiastic marchers made this year's event a grand success. When we got into downtown the roar of our chant:

"what do we want?" - "DRUG PEACE!" - "when do we want it?" -"NOW!"

...echoed off the walls of the buildings and was loud as hell. This year we had the COMPLETE attention of the Saturday Market crowd as we passed through that area. Thanks to all who came and marched. Hats off to Kris Milligan and Michael Anthony for leading the parade.

Thanks also to whomever provided the spliffs circulating among the crowd at the Wayne Morse Free Speech area! The scene there was like an old time Ganja Revival. The 13th Tribe provided inspirational tunes that had the crowd dancing and grooving. I must be honest tho' and say the "speakers" left a lot to be desired. Space Cowboy, the big guy who mispronounced Dr. Levecque's name, and the uh, gentleman (and I admit he wasn't an invited speaker), proclaiming "god's love for us" were less than inspiring. So bad were those three in fact, I will gladly volunteer my voice next year. (Gads I haven't done public speaking in nearly 20 years but will help out if it keeps the orally challenged off the stage).

Lets hope we don't have to have this MMMarch next year, but if we do...
I'll see ya there.

allan