Day Six: A Nighttime Encounter; A Day in the Countryside
September 27, 2000
Day Six began at the end of Day Five. At midnight Brian McCullough, a
Kentucky marijuana reform activist called in to Jodi and me (we had just
turned off the computer after sending an email to Nora Callahan of the
November Coalition and Tony Newman of Lindesmith-DPF) alerting us,
saying: "Chiefs - we have a situation . . . there are three police
vehicles outside."
After our most intense day of police conflict, we were expecting the
worst. Jodi came out with the courage of her convictions and asked the
Brenham officers what they were doing here so late at night? Brian,
Michael Krawitz, of Patients Out of Time and Virginians Against Drug
Violence and photographer Michael Marco quickly explained to us that
this was a friendly visit. The officers were curious about the issues
and wanted to discuss our views.
We ended up having a two-hour, personal teach-in with each officer - we
each learned from the other. I talked to an African American officer,
Lloyd Powell who had a Bachelors degree from Grambling and a Masters
from Louisiana State. Our conversation ranged widely from treatment vs.
prison, to the gateway theory, racism in drug enforcement, preventing
adolescent abuse and the Dutch experience.
Brian bonded with an officer by sharing his Marine background - similar
to the officer he was talking with - then further bonded by explaining
how the people who oppose reform most are those who profit from it -
gangs and cartels. He noted that reformers and police had a common
enemy.
Sadly, but understandably they all told us they would arrest someone in
possession of marijuana. We gave them some literature and URLŐs and told
them they could read about this experience and the rest of the Journey
on our web sites.
When I was returning from a morning walk today a police car was pulling
up to the Journey caravan. This time Brian and I approached them with
less suspicion. Once again they were there to hear about our views and
discuss the issues. They had heard from their colleagues who had visited
us the night before about their experience.
The day went without incident, except for a drained battery in one RV
and a transmission problem with a car from Brownsville that joined us in
the middle of the Journey.
In the evening we were in Giddings, TX preparing for our Austin arrival
tomorrow when we received a call that the police had stopped a crew that
was passing out literature and speaking through a speaker. Jodi, Mary
Mackenzie of Arizona NORML and I drove to the seen. By the time we
arrived there were three police cars, they had the license and insurance
information of one of our people. While we there one of the officers
received a radio call saying something along the lines of: "If those are
the people going through Texas in a marijuana caravan leave them alone."
Tomorrow we will rally at the Giddings County Courthouse and conclude
the day in Austin.
Kevin
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