cannabisnews.com: 10th Annual Freedom Rally & Initiative Kick-Off





10th Annual Freedom Rally & Initiative Kick-Off
Posted by FoM on September 12, 1999 at 07:05:45 PT
Upcoming Event
Source: Mass Cann
Reading, MA - Mass Cann-NORML's 10th Annual Freedom Rally will be Saturday, September 18, from noon to six, on the Boston Common to protest marijuana prohibition. This year the Rally will be the kick-off to the initiative petition signature drive for a law to regulate marijuana's medical use and decriminalize its possession. 
The Freedom Rally is one of the largest anti-war on marijuana protests in the world. It receives national and international media attention. "For the first time since 1996, the city granted the permit without an order of the Suffolk Superior Court," said Mass Cann President, Bill Downing. "Now that we didn't have to litigate, the organization focused on putting together a fantastic line-up of speakers, musical entertainment, a hemp fashion show, voter registration and signature gathering for an initiative petition." "We already have commitments from R. Keith Stroup, Esq., founder and current executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws; Denis Peron, founder of the San Francisco Marijuana Buyers Club, Carla Howell, Former Libertarian State Party Chair, '98 State Auditor candidate and '00 U.S. Senate, and Steven Hagar, Editor in Chief of the Most Notorious Magazine in the World, High Times. There will be a press conference on September 17, at 4:00 p.m. on the State House steps. Press passes will be available in advance or at the press tent backstage the day of the rally. SPEAKERS FOR THE 1999 RALLY John Sinclair, a legend in the pro-legalization movement. His conviction for possession of marijuana sparked a "Free John Sinclair" tent at the original Woodstock. He is the founder of the White Panther Party and Amorphia, the first organization to fight marijuana prohibition. Sinclair is a poet, performer and author penning Guitar Army, a collection of street, prison and political writings. Dennis Peron, Medical Cannabis Activist and Founder of the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Clubhttp://www.marijuana.org/ R. Keith Stroup, Esq., is a Washington, DC public-interest attorney who founded NORML in 1970 and served as the National Director of NORML from its founding through 1979, when marijuana was decriminalized in eleven states. He rejoined the board in 1994, and currently serves as the executive director. http://www.norml.org/ Steve Hager, Editor, High Times Magazine, the most notorious magazine in the world. http://www.hightimes.com/ Carla Howell, Libertarian Party candidate for US Senate. http://www.la-ma.org/Elvy Musikka, Founder of the Cannabis Action Network and one of only 8 Americans who recieves medical marijuana from the federal government Kevin Zeese, Esq., President of Common Sense for Drug Policy. He is one of the nation's foremost authorities on drug policy issues. He is the author of "Drug Prohibition and the Conscience of Nations", "Drug Testing Legal Manual" and co-author of "Drug Law: Strategies and Tactics." In addition, he is the co-founder of the Drug Policy Foundation and former National Director of NORML. http://www.csdp.org/kz/ Nora Callahan Founder, November Coalition, Advocates for prisoners of the drug war. http://www.november.org/ Deneen and Justice Clark, in December 1998, Justice was taken from his mother Deneen at birth by the state of New Jersey after testing positive for THC metabolites. http://www.norml.org/news/archives/99-04-15.shtml Michael Cloud, Celebrated Libertarian Orator http://www.lp.org/ Steve S. Epstein, Esq., Co-founder of your host Mass Cann/NORML Mike Gogulski, Vice President of Efficacy, A drug reform group out of Hartford CT.http://efficacy-online.org/ Vermin Supreme of Misinformed Citizens, Fascist Party Candidate This year's musical guests include: thesheiladivine http://www.thesheiladivine.com/winner of WBCN's 1999 Rock N' Roll Rumble and fine purveyors of rockin' pop tunes. Ron Levy and his Wild Kingdom http://www.levtron.com/ RON LEVY'S WILD KINGDOM is breakin' out and funkin' up 'live' audiences. The band features Henley Douglas on sax and Garret Savluk on trumpet formerly of the HEAVY METAL HORNS as well as Greg "GT" Tawa on guitar, formerly with "Mighty" Sam McClain and the great Benny B on drums. The band is propelled by Ron Levy's screamin' funky, B-3 organ on top and organ bass [Levy's feet and left hand] on the bottom. The strong pulse cannot be denied. SOULFUL, FUNKY BLUES, JAZZ and R&B. This 5 piece group is coming. You've been warned! Lil' Wolf and The Mojo's featuring Shirley Lewis - Guitarist Arina, leads this five piece Boston Blues band Henley Douglas on tenor sax, keyboardist Don (Riverboat) Reed, bassist Kate Seavey and drummer Brian Butler. Shirley Lewis, Queen of the Boston Blues Scene won the Boston Battle of the Blues Bands in 1989, and was nominated best Blues vocals in 1990 and 1991 for the Boston Music Awards. She has toured extensively in the US and Canada, and has recorded for Stan Hope House Records. Katie Frend, granddaughter of legendary country musician Dick Curless, will also be joining the Mojo for a tune or two. This marks their second appearance at the Freedom Rally. Babaloo - Babaloo's music is a colorful mixture of various World Beat styles: Samba, Mambo, Bossanova, Ju Ju, Cha Cha, Reggae, Ska, Calypso, Rai and Merenge fused with Punk. These punk mamabo masters make their first appearance on the Freedom Rally stage this year. Tree http://www.treemusic.comLegends have been written about Tree's previous performances at the Freedom Rally. The band contributed, "God Grows Grass" to Common Sensi, a compilation CD to benefit Mass Cann/NORML. Tree just released their fourth studio CD "Our Day Will Come" on Wonderdrug Records. Sam Black Church http://www.samblackchurch.com/Heavy rock act SBC stand head and shoulders above their noisy brethren due to intricate and original arrangements complemented by one of the highest energy live shows to be found anywhere. SBC's appearing at the Freedom Rally has become a tradition of sorts. SBC contributed, "Not Fit For The Force" to Common Sensi, a compilation CD to benefit Mass Cann/NORML and are releasing a CD of rare and previously unreleased tracks this September. The Cannabis Cup Band - The High Times Cannabis Cup Band is an underground reggae phenomenon. Featuring Rocker-T and Judah Eskender Tafari on vocals, this frontline NYC crew plays cannabis classics and originals in many styles at the annual Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam and at hempfests around the USA. When in New York City, check them out at their home base, the Wetlands Preserve. John Brown's Body http://www.uprise.com/JBB/Recognized as one of the best reggae bands in America, John Brown's Body (JBB) has been delivering their grassroots sound for over 10 years. With over 1,000 shows under their belt and 7,000 CD sales to date, the Ithaca, NY band has created a strong following. The conscious lyrics and powerful dance grooves blend together to create a unique sound beyond the boundaries of traditional reggae. HOW TO SUPPORT THE MASSCANN/NORML To support MassCann's work and receive the bi-monthly newsletter, "Mass Grass," please send $15.00 annual membership dues to: Mass CannP.O. Box 0266Georgetown, MA 01833-0366 Dues and contributions are not tax deductible.
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Comment #1 posted by Gringo Starr on January 11, 2000 at 16:10:29 PT:
Babaloo's URL
Greetings.In your press announcement, you negelected to include Babaloo's URL, http://www.punkmambo.com.While we do not play the rocknroll that has been the musical focus of previous Freedom Rallies, we nonetheless seem to appeal to a few people in te New England area who may want to check us out.Admitedly band promotion is not as important as stopping the drug war, but we did exert a lot of energy explaining to our fans and press that we were supporting your efforts, so it would be nice to have the same courtesy extended to us as extended to other bands on the bill.Thank you.
http://www.punkmambo.com
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