The 1998 Global Days against the Drug War
by Tyree Callahan, The November Coalition
From June 8-10, the United Nations General Assembly in New York will hold a special session on drugs. This session was originally conceived as a critical examination on the overall efficiency of anti-drug strategies around the world. It would seem that as soon as the U.S. government got whiff of a meeting designed to critique the overall war on drugs, some of the profiteers objected strenuously. Now the focus of this Special Session has been dangerously narrowed. Instead of examining the effectiveness of current policy, this Special Session will only discuss ways to expand existing policy. In effect, the UN (with considerable prodding from its American contingent) will be looking to take the U.S. drug war to the global arena.
This meeting will undoubtedly set the tone for worldwide drug policy for the next ten years. Drug policy reform activists have already been cringing at what the GOP has planned here in the United States. Led by Newt Gingrich, members of the Republican party are in the process of constructing and implementing a "World War Two style battle plan" to make America drug-free by the year 2002. As of this printing, we're not exactly sure if that means they're going to invite the DEA to Blitzkrieg the country with flak jackets, assault rifles, and Panzer tanks, but to be safe, we shouldn't put it beyond them.
To this end, the entire drug policy reform movement has come together to create what is being called the Global Coalition for Alternatives to the Drug War. This global coalition of anti-prohibitionist organizations is coordinating a Global Days against the Drug War, to be held June 6, 7, and 8 as a prelude to the United Nations Special Session. This international event will feature demonstrations, seminars, publications such as this, press conferences, street parties, concerts, and other such happenings. As of this printing, there are over twenty-two cities involved in the Global Days against the Drug War, from as far away as Brussels, Amsterdam, and Tel Aviv, to right here in Seattle, Bellingham, and Colville, Washington. The Global Coalition for Alternatives to the Drug War needs your voice to state that current policies should not be expanded, and that we need to implement reform policy that would reduce repression, prison construction, and the overall harm related to locking up non-violent people for drug "crimes."
This will be a crucial year for the drug policy reform movement. With Republicans and Democrats on either side of the table trying to prove each is tougher on drugs than the other, most citizens are either out of the room, already in prison, or hiding under the table in hopes of not being caught in the fray. This newsletter, indeed the entire Global Days against the Drug War, is a "call to arms" for all citizens to become active in opposing this American catastrophe before it hits the global arena. You thought Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" was bad. The new war on drugs will do more damage to society than the last ten years by far.
There are a few ways you can help. The first thing you can do is register to vote. Sign every anti-prohibition initiative you can. When it hits the ballot, make sure to get out and vote in favor of it. The next thing is to get in touch with your local drug policy reform organization. Admittedly, the image of a drug policy reformer has been somewhat trivialized by the likes of Cheech and Chong; however, reformers today are very serious about what they do. Many have loved ones serving unjust mandatory minimum prison terms. Others are working on behalf of ill patients who benefit from medical marijuana and are criminalized because of that benefit. Still others are becoming involved with drug policy reform because they have been or are afraid of being victimized by the violent people being released from prison to make room for drug law defiants. Once you've contacted your local reform organization, let them know you're willing to help out. You can be involved at any level: anything from planning a demonstration to attending it. There are several Seattle/Puget Sound area activist organizations. Finally, attend the local Global Days against the Drug War event in your region. This will be one of the best ways to learn about the various anti-drug war organizations in your area.
Global Days events are planned in the following Washington cities:
- Bellevue
- Events are still being finalized for Bellevue. For info, contact Tyree Callahan at tyree@november.org.
- Colville
- Saturday, June 6, 11AM -- The November Coalition is sponsoring a Day Against the Drug War at Heritage Square. Bands include the Highter Earth Reggae Band, The Lambsbread, Clean & Sober and more. Contact Nora Callahan at nora@november.org for more info.
- Seattle
- Monday, June 8, 6PM -- A Global Days march is planned to depart from Westlake Center. For more info, contact Tim Crowley at turmoil@hemp.net or visit www.seattlemusicweb.com.