The first event of the Journey for Justice began at 11:00 AM at the
Harris County Correctional Center. Harris County currently has 7,700
prisoners and a new building currently under construction will add space
for 3,000 more people. The Harris County Jail will soon hold 10,000
people! This is the feeding system for Texas prisons -- the largest
source of prisoners in the State that leads the US in incarcerating
people.
Journeyers demonstrated in front of the jail and courthouse, passed out
flyers and rallied the crowd. From the courthouse we went to the
Federal Detention Center where Scott "Bullhorn" Bledsoe of Jacksonville,
FL spoke to the crowd. He urged the people to reject the corrupt war on
drugs. The police came up and told him he could not use a bullhorn. He
asked to see the ordinance -- noting his free speech rights. The officer
left him to get a copy of the ordinance and Scott continued to speak
into the bullhorn. The officer returned with an ordinance that said that
they could only speak to a certain decibel level and not shout from an
automobile. Scott pointed out he was not violating the ordinance. By
that time the press conference was ready to start so Scott stopped using
the Bullhorn to attend the event.
At Tranquility Park, across the street from Federal building, the
Journeyers held a press conference that showed the growing reform
movement in Houston. Joining Drug Policy Forum of Texas, the Journey for
Justice and Common Sense for Drug Policy were the ACLU, Corpus Justice
(focused on police brutality), the Green Party and Libertarian Party.
Look for an article in the Houston Chronicle about the first day of the
Journey.
A caravan of 19 Journeyers from seven states riding in two RVs, two
cars and a portable prison left Houston at 3:30. In route to Conroe, TX
Kay Lee and Tiffany Landreth traveled in the portable cell. We arrived
in Conroe at 7:00 PM.
Saturday, Sept. 23, the daily paper in Bryan, Texas - the Bryan Eagle - will have
an advance article on the Journey. On Day Two we are scheduled to visit
three state prisons located near Huntsville, Texas. If you look at
"prison town" in the dictionary there is a picture of Huntsville.
Family members and friends of prisoners will see the Journeyers rallying
on behalf of the prisoners of the drug war.
Kevin
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