News (Media Awareness Project) - US NY: Proponents Of Marijuana Stage Protest |
| Title: | US NY: Proponents Of Marijuana Stage Protest |
| Published On: | 2002-05-05 |
| Source: | New York Times (NY) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-23 10:47:22 |
PROPONENTS OF MARIJUANA STAGE PROTEST
An annual rite of protest by marijuana advocates resulted in 148 arrests
yesterday as several thousand people gathered in Lower Manhattan for a
march and rally.
The police said the demonstration, billed by its organizers as Million
Marijuana March 2002, was peaceful. All arrests were for possession or use
of marijuana, according to Officer Guy Braun, a police spokesman.
The crowd, which began gathering shortly after 1 p.m. at Houston Street and
Broadway, grew to about 6,000 as it made its way down a single lane of
Broadway to Battery Park, according to participants and some observers. The
police declined to estimate the size of the crowd.
Although similar rallies have been staged for years in Manhattan, the one
yesterday may have struck a nerve at City Hall, since Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg was prompted last month to say he regretted having mentioned in a
interview that he had once tried marijuana and enjoyed it.
That remark, along with a photograph of the mayor, has been used in
advertising by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws,
even though Mr. Bloomberg says he favors rigorous enforcement of marijuana
laws.
The police deployed hundreds of officers at the rally and apparently had
rigorous enforcement in mind, since many plainclothes officers were among
the marchers. Repeatedly, officers led away individuals and groups of
protesters who were seen smoking marijuana.
As the crowd moved slowly down Broadway, some protesters chanted "Bloomberg
smokes pot" as they passed City Hall Park. By 4 p.m., most of the group had
reached Battery Park, where they listened to music and speeches by people
calling for decriminalization of marijuana.
Although most demonstrators were in their teens or 20's, several were
veterans of such protests. "We won't stop marching until they legalize
marijuana," said David Peel, an East Village musician in his 40's.
The rally ended at 6 p.m. when a column of over 200 police officers walked
across Battery Park, forcing everyone to leave.
An annual rite of protest by marijuana advocates resulted in 148 arrests
yesterday as several thousand people gathered in Lower Manhattan for a
march and rally.
The police said the demonstration, billed by its organizers as Million
Marijuana March 2002, was peaceful. All arrests were for possession or use
of marijuana, according to Officer Guy Braun, a police spokesman.
The crowd, which began gathering shortly after 1 p.m. at Houston Street and
Broadway, grew to about 6,000 as it made its way down a single lane of
Broadway to Battery Park, according to participants and some observers. The
police declined to estimate the size of the crowd.
Although similar rallies have been staged for years in Manhattan, the one
yesterday may have struck a nerve at City Hall, since Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg was prompted last month to say he regretted having mentioned in a
interview that he had once tried marijuana and enjoyed it.
That remark, along with a photograph of the mayor, has been used in
advertising by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws,
even though Mr. Bloomberg says he favors rigorous enforcement of marijuana
laws.
The police deployed hundreds of officers at the rally and apparently had
rigorous enforcement in mind, since many plainclothes officers were among
the marchers. Repeatedly, officers led away individuals and groups of
protesters who were seen smoking marijuana.
As the crowd moved slowly down Broadway, some protesters chanted "Bloomberg
smokes pot" as they passed City Hall Park. By 4 p.m., most of the group had
reached Battery Park, where they listened to music and speeches by people
calling for decriminalization of marijuana.
Although most demonstrators were in their teens or 20's, several were
veterans of such protests. "We won't stop marching until they legalize
marijuana," said David Peel, an East Village musician in his 40's.
The rally ended at 6 p.m. when a column of over 200 police officers walked
across Battery Park, forcing everyone to leave.
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