POLICE BREAK UP WEEDSTOCK FESTIVAL

Organizer Condemns Action As Unconstitutional

BARABOO, Wis. -- Sheriff's deputies broke up the annual Weedstock festival
promoting legalizing marijuana Friday, ordering several hundred people to
leave. One of the event's organizers was among a dozen people arrested.

About 50 officers dispersed the 300 to 400 people who gathered at a farm in
the town of Fairfield for the event. Some officers used megaphones to tell
people to leave.

"I drove 163 miles. Now I've got to turn around? What's that? This is the
worst," said Sterling Shore, 21. He and Irinia Alexandru, 20, had driven
their motorcycle from Bartlett, Ill.

Sauk County Sheriff Randy Stammen got a court order to close the music
festival and campout.

"We don't want to break up the party, but we are following a court order,"
Stammen said.

Attendees chanted statements such as "Where's Janet Reno?" and "Protect our
rights."

Authorities arrested event organizer Ben Masel, saying he was in contempt
of the court order shutting down the event. Masel said his rights were
violated.

"These people seem to think they can stomp all over the Constitution, and
they're wrong," Masel said.

People camped out on the festival grounds began leaving shortly after
authorities arrived. Police put up a barrier reading "Weedstock closed by
court order."

Joe Mayer said concert-goers were peacefully assembled to stand up for a cause.

"We might all be dope smokers but we're all peace-loving dope smokers,"
said Mayer, 23, of Eau Claire. "We just want to party in this field."

After letting people leave voluntarily for three hours, police and
sheriff's officials went into the festival site and gave people final warnings.

When officers went in, most people were peaceful and "started packing real
fast," the sheriff said.

"There were 11 who didn't want to leave and were warned for a final time.
They didn't leave and they were arrested," also for contempt of court, he said.

Authorities planned to maintain a presence at the farm through the weekend
to keep people from trying to get back on the grounds, Stammen said. The
festival was scheduled to end Monday.