FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 12/17/2013
Event: Court Hearings: Mike Whiter 12/19 Federal Magistrate Court Byrne Federal Courthouse 6th and Market 10:30AM
Dezarn and Goldstein postponed until 1/23/2014
Comedian NA Poe sentenced; Activists Dezarn and Goldstein postponed; USMC Vet in court
Philadelphia – UPDATE 12/17/13
Comedian NA Poe of The Panic Hour was sentenced to one year of probation on Friday December 13th for his arrest during the Smoke Down Prohibition X marijuana legalization rally in May at Independence Hall National Historic Park. The US Attorney had requested three years of probation with a list of special restrictions.
Poe was tackled to the ground and jailed for six days in the Federal Detention Center after leading a countdown and lighting a joint as a civil disobedience action at 4:20PM . He has spent the past six months on pre-trial release with a special ban from the park.
Judge Henry Perkin ordered Poe to remain outside of the park during any event involving marijuana and civil disobedience but not on a casual, everyday basis. Judge Perkin did explain that he would not put any restrictions on Poe’s vocal advocacy or associating with fellow marijuana reform activists.
Political activists Chris Goldstein and Don Dezarn have had their trials postponed until January 23, 2014.
Goldstein and Dezarn are being put on trial by the Eastern District of Pennsylvania US Attorney after being cited at two separate protest events while keeping up the monthly cannabis action. Their trial begins on Thursday December 19th at 10:30AM. Both were cited in June and again in August after taking a few puffs of a single joint. They face the only federal trial for simple marijuana possession in recent memory.
There are more than 750,000 marijuana possession arrests each year but less than 5% of those possession arrests occur on federal property. Aggressively prosecuting the pair may result in an interesting case surrounding marijuana and the First Amendment. The case may have an impact in Washington and Colorado where marijuana is now legal under state laws but authorities have vowed to doggedly enforce prohibition on federal land.
Dezarn is being represented by George Newman Esq. and Goldstein is represented by William Buckman Esq., both are renowned civil rights attorneys. Legal defense fund: http://www.gofundme.com/sdp420
PhillyNORML Co-Chair and US Marine Corp Veteran Mike Whiter will represent himself in Federal Magistrate Court on 12/19 over his first cannabis citation. Whiter is a strong advocate for cannabis as a treatment for PTSD and physical pain associated with military service. Several other Smoke Down Prohibition participants also have their first appearance in federal court on Thursday December 19, 2013
Smoke Down Prohibition protests began as consistent, monthly gatherings in December 2012. The crowd assembles at an outdoor area of the park designated as “The People’s Plaza” within sight of the Liberty Bell, The Constitution Center, The First Presidential Mansion and Independence Hall. The hour-long events have always been publicly announced weeks in advance. The rally has been very consistent with forty-five minutes of speeches, music and comedy then fifteen minutes for a brief civil disobedience action.
Dozens of notable advocates have given spoken at SDP protests in 2013 including : PA gubernatorial candidate John Hanger, Retired Philadelphia Police Captain Ray Lewis, National NORML Board member Diane Fornbacher, Neill Franklin from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), Jim Miller and Ken Wolski RN from the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ), registered NJ medical marijuana patients Jay Lassiter and Rowyn Capers, Pennsylvania hemp advocate Les Stark, NJ state legislature candidate Don DeZarn, activist Ed “NJWeedman” Forchion and many more.
On April 20, 2013 more than five-hundred people peacefully gathered for the rally; hundreds participated in civil disobedience and then easily disbursed.Video: http://youtu.be/twa9_7_a_c4
From December 2012 until April 2013 the National Park Service Rangers showed tolerance for the group and there were no arrests or citations.
Then on May 18, 2013 there was a sudden shift in law enforcement action against the assembly. More than one hundred National Park Service Rangers, Philadelphia Police, SEPTA Transit Police, US Fish & Wildlife Officers and heavily armed Department of Homeland Security Agents surrounded the event. The US Attorney (federal prosecutor) set up a processing tent and stationed Deputy US Attorneys on site. Dozens of participants were tackled to the ground and aggressively detained on 5/18 simply for the act of lighting marijuana joints. Video: http://youtu.be/LZxH_GozkY4
Undeterred by the encroachments and actions by law enforcement personnel the protesters bravely returned each month since.
Participants showed a strong commitment to peaceful, non-violent action by continuing in a civil manner. The massive, multi-agency police response to the small group of marijuana advocates has re-appeared in June, July, August, September, October and November. Approximately 30 citations have been issued since May by Park Rangers.
Smoke Down Prohibition XII will be announced this week. Participants look forward to celebrating a full year of action to reform America’s unjust marijuana laws.
Those on trial will be available to the press at the courthouse.
CONTACT: Chris Goldstein 267 702 3731 media@phillynorml.org or NA Poe napoe0@gmail.com 267 616 0828
One Response to "Trial updates: Comedian NA Poe sentenced; Activists Dezarn and Goldstein postponed; USMC Vet in court"
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Unbelievable!