cannabisnews.com: When Opposition Ignites





When Opposition Ignites
Posted by CN Staff on May 07, 2003 at 17:45:27 PT
By Tamás S Kiss
Source: Budapest Sun 
Police officers were forced to intervene when what started as a peaceful rally at 4pm last Sunday protesting against the criminalization of marijuana use turned ugly. Organized in the heart of Budapest at Vörösmarty tér by a group called Kendermag (Hempseed), the Million Marijuana March event joined some 260 towns and cities worldwide which held similar protests.
But a rival group of protesters, opposed to legalized drug consumption, also showed up and at about 7pm started shouting, booing, throwing eggs, tomatoes and even bottles as scuffles broke out between the two sides. Anti-demonstrators held up signs reading "The Nation's Rodents: Konrád, Fodor, Jancsó (Hungarian pro-legalization celebrities)…and SZDSZ. No Drugs!" Other signs labeled the "pro" demonstrators as "Grass" and the "anti" lobby as "Flowers and Trees". Police were forced to intervene and disperse the march, using loudhailers to requesting all protesters to disperse and go home an hour before the event was due to end. The counter-demonstration was organized by three rightwing associations (Movement for a Free Hungary, Civic Circle for Fresh Air and Conscience '88) loosely grouped under the Polgari kör (Civic Circle) association former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán inspired after his election defeat. The Trianon Association was also represented, according to signs carried by protesters. Although the two groups were separated by a police cordon, eye witnesses said opponents of the pro march evaded the obstacles and mixed with demonstrators. Organizers requested the mob to move back or at least initiate some form of dialogue, but tension, voices and eventually fists were raised. Budapest police later confirmed they had detained two counter-protesters, but by the time of going to press no charges had been made. László Felsô, chairman of the Kendermag, said that the association would file a complaint and demanded legal action against the three anti-demonstrating groups. He added that the association also blamed the police for not interfering when the opposing mob threw beer bottles at the peaceful activists. "Our lawyers are working on the issue," said Felsô. Péter Gusztos, Free Democrat (SZDSZ) MP said that he condemned those opponents who had disturbed the peaceful event and freedom of speech, with such appalling behavior. These right wing groups restricted the Kendermag from practicing its constitutional right," said Gusztos. In a statement released by Conscience '88, the group announced that it will in future continue to oppose any form of expression in "this issue". Source: Budapest Sun (Hungary)Author: Tamás S Kiss Published: May 8, 2003 - Volume XI, Issue 19 Copyright: 2003 The Budapest SunContact: editor bpsun.huWebsite: http://www.budapestsun.com/Kendermag Egyesülethttp://www.kendermag.huMillion Marijuana March News 2003http://freedomtoexhale.com/million.htm Is the Law Potty on Pot?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16143.shtmlGrassroots Call for Change on Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16123.shtmlCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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