1st Annual International Anti-Prohibition Day

International Anti-Prohibition Day. The day was supposed to be a day of peace, but the police were determined to make it a day of confrontation.

It started out peaceful enough. The crowd, reporters and myself arrived at much the same time. After some brief sound bites, most of the media took off. Then an unlucky cop came on the scene.

First, oficer friendly told me that this was an illegal gathering that I had to end. I said it was a peaceful assembly - the kind that is protected in our constitution. She said that I had no permit - I was going to be arrested for causing a disturbance.

It was then and only then that I took off my Dare - I turned in my parents and all I got was this lousy t-shirt top and put on my FUCK THE POLICE t-shirt.

I then went to the PA system to make the announcement that the police had threatened to arrest me for causing a disturbance. That's when the woman boke cop pulled the plug on the PA.

I then went over to the offending officer and told her that this was an otherwise completely legal rally - completely legal if it wasn't for those life-destroying laws that no one in the medical, political, or "serve-and-protect" communities could justify.

Because the laws were so damaging, unreasonable, and impossible to justify, we had to oppose them with all the non-violence and positivity that we could manage.

I then tore the electric cord from her hands and plugged that sucker back in.

The crowd had moved up to the corner of the park where the confrontation was taking place. The crowd supported this assertive stand, and began drumming and dancing loudly. The police requested that the party move back to the middle of the park, and we requested that the leave the electrical cord alone.

The rest of the day was spent smoking pot and dancing to wonderful musical performers such as Web and the Odua drummers. All and all, the day was a complete success.

For more information on the rest of the international event, check out the Legalize site.

International Anti-Prohibition Day

• New York
• San Francisco
• Amsterdam
• Estonia
• Hawaii
• Vancouver
• [your city or town here]

In Vancouver, this event will be hosted in Grandview Park at 2pm.

The entertainment bill features Web (a recommended listen -ed.), your favorite ranting Vancouverites, and an egalitarian open stage.

All musicians and videographers get smoked-up . . . of course. For information call (604)669-9069, ask for David Malmo-Levine, or extension 17. Email David at growpotkin@hempbc.com