cannabisnews.com: Protests Interrupt Reno Safety Speech





Protests Interrupt Reno Safety Speech
Posted by FoM on December 04, 1999 at 20:49:00 PT
By Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer 
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Attorney General Janet Reno urged Oakland business leaders yesterday to work with police and educators to help reduce violence in a speech that was interrupted by a boisterous protest on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of murdering a police officer. 
Reno told 500 people at a luncheon meeting of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce that they should use their business acumen to help ensure that recent drops in crime continue. Reno cited youth programs like the Oakland Athletics' restoration of inner-city baseball fields as examples businesses can use to help develop safer communities. ``We should harness the power, ingenuity and the resources to further our advantage in the fight against crime and end the culture of violence in our society,'' Reno said. ``We cannot become complacent,'' she said, noting that the ``unprecedented economic prosperity'' should provide the impetus for businesses to take action. Reno, the nation's top law-enforcement officer, said Oakland can become stronger if the elements of business, education and policing work together, themes that were echoed yesterday in remarks by Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown and City Manager Robert Bobb. ``Business is the glue that makes it happen,'' said Reno, who drew a standing ovation. At the start of her speech, about 50 people protesting on behalf of Abu-Jamal began yelling outside the doors of the luncheon at the Oakland Marriott. They waved signs and chanted, ``Janet Reno, give it up, turn it loose and cut the noose'' and ``Free Mumia.'' Protesters said they wanted Reno to open a Department of Justice investigation into alleged corruption by the Philadelphia Police Department that they claim prevented Abu-Jamal from getting a fair trial. Abu-Jamal, 45, was convicted of murdering a Philadelphia police officer in 1981 and was sentenced to death. In October, a federal judge stayed his execution, which had been set for Thursday , as the former journalist began another round of appeals. Oakland police shepherded the demonstrators outside, where they began pounding on the doors. But as the protest ended, another began inside as four Oakland women who had bought tickets to the event stood up and interrupted Reno as she began speaking. Taking off their jackets to reveal white shirts reading, ``New Trial for Mumia,'' Maria Cordero, 23, and Edget Betru, 25, told Reno that she should look into Philadelphia police practices if she truly cared about community safety. Police, including Oakland Police Chief Richard Word and Union City officers who were giving a presentation, surrounded the women and prepared to escort them out, but Reno said, ``Let me hear them. It's very important that we hear young people.'' The attorney general then told the women that she would meet with them afterward. She spent a few minutes with them at the end of the event and said she would look into whether a probe was needed. Reno was not as cordial to Jeff Jones, executive director of the shuttered Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, a group that has been battling the federal government over its zero-tolerance stance on medical marijuana. Jones said Reno refused to talk to him because of pending litigation involving the Oakland club. Jones said Reno's appearance in Oakland was hypocritical given the federal government's stance and the fact that Oakland city officials have openly supported medical marijuana. The Oakland club was among a number of groups that had a banner prominently displayed at the luncheon. San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan, a vocal medical-marijuana advocate, was among those seated at the marijuana club's table. ``We wanted to show her that we're not going away,'' Jones said. Published: December 4, 1999©1999 San Francisco Chronicle  Page A17 Related Article & Web Site:Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperativehttp://www.rxcbc.org/index.htmlLunch With Janet Reno - 12/04/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3877.shtml
END SNIP -->
Snipped
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: