Note: The Razor Wire, a 20 page bi-monthly tabloid newspaper distributed by
The November Coalition, has a distribution larger than some of the small
newspapers we post items from. MAP has, from time to time, posted items
from widely distributed publications of DPR organizations. If you would
like an item to be posted, please email rlake@mapinc.org

Also: The Razor Wire is online at the above URL. This item is selected for
redistribution because it shows how an activist can start a vigil.

See: Two Million Too Many! Click here to find out how you can join us in
support of the National Vigil Project on February 15th, 2000:
http://www.november.org/twomilliontoomany.html

DRUG WAR VIGIL REPORT - CLEVELAND, OHIO

I want everyone to know how my vigils are going and some things I have done
to implement them where I live in Cleveland, Ohio.

Our vigil started on November 5,1999. We have them scheduled for each
Friday from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM. The vigil takes place in front of "Terminal
Tower" in downtown Cleveland. It is a shopping mall and also the entrance
to our public transportation system where foot traffic abounds. No permit
is needed. Terminal Tower is kitty corner to the federal courthouse and up
the street from the "Justice Center" which holds the city and county jails,
police department headquarters, public defenders' office, and courthouse.

Our first vigil drew four people, but our latest had seven attending. One
of the participants joined because of information she received from us the
week before. I have two people holding up the banner on which I have
attached a drug war poster on each end. They also pass out flyers. I have
one person collecting signatures for FAMM in support of the Rep. Maxine
Waters bill to reform mandatory drug sentencing. This is very effective
because people are waiting for the bus, and we have time to talk to them.
The rest of us spread out and distribute information. I try to move among
everyone to be available for answering questions.

The information I pass out consists of the blue vigil flyers, the cream
information flyer, the green drug war tabloids, and an occasional Razor
Wire. I also took the Drug War Fact Book written by Kendra Wright and Paul
Lewin and copied each page. On the top of the page I wrote DRUG WAR FACTS
followed by a page from the book and underneath that I have my contact
information. Facts cannot be disputed.

I went to an office supply store with self-copy service to have a poster of
a drug war prisoner laminated. The clerk asked some questions, and I gave
him a copy of The Razor Wire and the prisoner stories tabloid. A week later
I went to make copies of the flyers, and when it came time to pay for them
he told me the copies were on him. I thanked him, and he said I could come
once a week and a copy at no charge on white paper. Each week they donate
500 copies of the flyers and 1000 copies of Drug War Facts (2 fact sheets
per page, which I then cut in half so I have 2 flyers). When I asked him
why he would do this for me, he told me he wasn't just doing it for me; he
is "doing it for all of his friends that have gotten a raw deal from the
system."

I encourage everyone to start leading or attending drug war vigils. This is
a great way to educate the public to the injustice. If people don't know,
there will never be change.