cannabisnews.com: Critics at Lennon Tribute Will Not Let It Be Critics at Lennon Tribute Will Not Let It Be Posted by FoM on December 10, 2000 at 07:37:21 PT By Sean Gardiner, Staff Writer Source: NewsDay As fans from all over the world gathered in Central Park's Strawberry Fields to commemorate the 20th anniversary of pop icon John Lennon's death, undercover drug officers mingling in the crowd arrested 19 people for smoking marijuana Friday and early yesterday morning. In addition to the undercover officers, an estimated 50 to 60 uniformed police officers, led by Chief of Department Joseph Esposito, kept watch over the crowd as participants sang songs and lighted candles until a 1 a.m. park curfew. Police estimated that the event, held annually on Dec. 8, drew about 1,000 at its peak. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, citing concerns for public safety, had refused requests to waive the curfew, despite a personal appeal from the lord mayor of Liverpool. Following a Republican event on Staten Island yesterday, when asked about the marijuana arrests and police presence, Giuliani said, "That's what they should do. I don't know why anybody would be shocked by that. It is illegal in the state of New York and the United States of America to sell marijuana or smoke marijuana. So the police were doing what they should be doing." Norman Siegel, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, called the police presence "intimidating, authoritarian and oppressive" and said he plans to file a complaint with the city Civilian Complaint Review Board. Shortly after midnight, Siegel said, officers started to refuse people entrance to the park to attend the vigil, held in Strawberry Fields-a section, named after a Beatles hit, that is a short walk from The Dakota apartment building where Lennon was gunned down by a deranged fan Dec. 8, 1980. "I was there for most of the night," Siegel said in an interview. "And it was total overkill by the police." Siegel said he will file the CCRB complaint against Esposito, the third-ranking member of the department, for refusing to let people into the park before the curfew. Esposito personally oversaw the police operation until 2:30 a.m., Siegel said. Siegel was among those refused entrance to the park at that time. He said he had been at the vigil earlier and left to watch the 11 p.m. Friday news. When he returned at 12:30 a.m., he said, officers refused to let him into the park. He complained to Esposito, and the chief, in what Siegel described as a "cutesy manner," said, "I guess my people read their watches wrong." "Chief Esposito, the third person in command, was there into the late hours, leading this major operation on John Lennon and Beatles fans?" Siegel said, incredulous. "It was uncalled-for. The police should focus on real crime, not people who were in Strawberry Fields smoking marijuana." Tom Antenen, a police department spokesman, said, "Given the fact that in the past there has been pot smoking" at the Lennon vigil, both undercover and uniformed officers were assigned to the event. In addition to the 19 people charged with smoking marijuana, one person was arrested for sale of marijuana. While not everyone had departed by 2 a.m., police said the scene was quiet. Complete Title: Police Presence Panned Critics of Cops at Lennon Tribute Will Not Let It BeSource: Newsday (NY)Author: Sean Gardiner, Staff WriterPublished: December 10, 2000Copyright: 2000, Newsday Inc.Fax: (516) 843-2986Contact: letters newsday.comWebsite: http://www.newsday.com/CannabisNews Articles - Giulianihttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=Giuliani Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #13 posted by Sverdie on December 12, 2000 at 07:30:05 PT My comments This makes me wanna cry.How about this one: Make it law to smile to people you meat.That would make the world a nicer and friendlier place, right?I suggest the penalty for "failure to smile" to be a fewmonths in jail. This is such a great way to improve society.Maybe we could make it illegal for guys to come before thewoman comes too? Indeed, law enforecment is the ideal groupto be in charge of increasing the love in the world.What do you think? [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by mungojelly on December 11, 2000 at 14:49:51 PT: we do have curfews We do have curfews here in Amerika. We are told what we can and cannot eat, drink, and smoke, and if we are not in bed at the proper time Big Brother will put us to bed, nice and cozy. Rudy and all the people like him keep quoting statistics: the more people we put in jail, they say, the less crime there is. Well, well. Someday soon they are going to realize that if they just put EVERYONE in jail, the crime rate would absolutely plummet! And what a wonderful day that will be. mungojelly [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by i_rule_ on December 10, 2000 at 17:17:09 PT God bless you, John Thanks FoM for printing the lyrics. I have a tear in my eye for John. I have a hatred in my heart for Giuliani and all the rest of the heartless bast**ds on this earth. But one thing I know for sure. There is a revolution brewing. It won't be violent. The weapon will be truth and nothing will stop it. Not even Giuliani's storm troopers. Thank you God, for John Lennon. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by MikeEEEEE on December 10, 2000 at 12:55:17 PT Mayor Rudolph Giuliani Imagine a state where people are ticketed or arrested for quality of life crimes, wether it's a homeless person on the street or a hot dog vendor or a ticket for not sorting your recycled garbage correctly. I've spoken to a few people from New York and they hate Rudolph Giuliani, a few have gone as far to say he's a Nazi.This guy Rudy definitly has something up his ass, in more ways than one. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by freedom fighter on December 10, 2000 at 12:52:51 PT What John means to a deaf person I get goosebumps everytime I feel his paino wafting through the speakers. The vibration of his voice tingles my spine. The lyrics floating by my deaf ears and I hear the meaning.On the day he departed, my ears turned so deaf that my soul cried out "Why?"! My ears only want to hear more of his music.FoM, thanks for the lyrics.. I love everything about John and the Beatles..ex-pat, thanks for the reply and the prayer. My trouble seems so small but I shall fight a good Fight! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by defenderoffreeworld on December 10, 2000 at 11:41:31 PT: just a (stupid ) question/comment on my part i am an american citizen, though i lived in south america my entire life, and have come back to the u.s a couple of years ago. you might think this is a stupid thing to say, but there's a curfew here? i mean, people are not allowed to stay on the streets after a determined hour? does anyone else think this is a little f---ed up or is it just me? i had no idea this took place. i knew you were not allowed to drink after i certain hour, but i thought you could stay on the streets. i mean, its not all about the erb or the drugs in this place. even if you're a "model citizen" you are restricted told what to do in such ludicrous ways, if this were to happen elsewhere, man, s--t would go down fast. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on December 10, 2000 at 11:15:32 PT: My Favorite John Lennon Song - Imagine Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today... Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace... You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world... You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one http://members.aol.com/pop1rock1/JohnLennon/Lyrics/lyric6.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by ex-pat on December 10, 2000 at 11:11:18 PT For freedom fighter So true freedom fighter, John must be looking down shaking his head. I hope all is going well with your troubles and my prayers are with you. BTW, I am currently living in the south of Spain, in answer to your question awhile back...Peace! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by freedom fighter on December 10, 2000 at 10:57:43 PT Impeach Rudy! Nothing more but a parasite that has been sucking living blood from the New Yorkers!What would John do if he was alive?I think he would sing a song about this.Rest in peace, JohnImagine\/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by nuff sed on December 10, 2000 at 10:55:39 PT Rudy is a waste of skin.. Rudy needs to die in the most horrible way from his prostrate cancer. Do I sound harsh? Let the waste of skin go and worry about the lives of those he incarcerated instead. What about them? And the rape victims he ignores?He deserves everything he gets. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Robbie on December 10, 2000 at 10:30:00 PT: It would figure Being that Rudy Giuliani is an Italian-American, it seems he is regressing to emulate a former Italian statesman named Mussolini. Fascism is fascism whether you sugar coat it or not.Free and freedom loving people, getting together to commemorate that person who most inspired people to love and forgive, arrested because they are "smoking pot and pot is illegal." Who are you protecting? How is the illegality in any way tied to these people, and why should you interpose upon them with your idea of governance.It goes back to fascism...it's symptomatic of all prohibition.John said it best, Rudy, "Instant karma's gonna get you!" John Lennon is alive [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on December 10, 2000 at 08:51:41 PT: Rudy's idee' fixe 50 to 60 cops. All to harrass, intimidate and arrest harmless pot smokers, some of whom were engaged in a memorium for a man many deemed to be far ahead of his time.Meanwhile, elsewhere in Rudyopolis, murders are being committed, wives beaten (some by their cop husbands) and children chased by pervs. Old ladies are having their Social Security checks stolen. Hot shot Ivan Boesky/Michael Milken wannabes are defrauding investors, emptying life savings and popping champagne corks and toasting the God of Greed.But all Rudy can care about is busting pot-heads. Is is just me, or does this seem more than a little anal-retentive? After all, given his prostate cancer problems, I can certainly understand his intense focus upon that region of his anatomy.But someone should inform him that he should leave off the self-examinations; sticking his head up his ass on this issue is not going to make matters any easier, and is bound to be painful. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Thomas on December 10, 2000 at 08:41:20 PT Police Presence It blows me away that there was such a presence in the crowd and the level of importance that this implies. Where were all the cops when all those women were being molested during the Puerto Rican Day parade? Rudy has such twisted priorities. I read that New York City has a several year backload of rape kits waiting to be tested, but they don't have the funding. I guess it is better to get the pot smokers of the street rather than waste resources chasing molestors and trying to get rapists off the street. If drug war crimes are ever prosecuted, Rudy deserves his share of attention by the prosecution. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: