Fwd: 4/20 Rally Information by (SSDP, SFL, MEND, LEAP)
Joshua Lee
From: JOHN JEONG <jjeo...@berkeley.edu>
Date: Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 1:06 AM
Subject: 4/20 Rally Information by (SSDP, SFL, MEND, LEAP)
To: Joshua Lee <josh...@gmail.com>
Hello! This is John Jeong. As you know 4/20 is a holiday celebrated as "let's all smoke weed in public at 4:20 am/pm, dude." However, to activists like me, we take advantage of this holiday and try to raise awareness of the War on Drugs. You may be asking "What does this have anything to do with social justice small group?" Well I'll tell ya! More and more of the world has called upon drug policy reform in countries with draconian punitive measures! Just recently Obama traveled to Colombia to meet with Latin American leaders to discuss their request that the US seek alternative drug policy paths in order to reduce the violence produced by Drug Cartels. However, since it is election year, Obama has dismissed the proposal to legalize and regulate drugs in the US.
Mexico's Drug War has cost approximately 50,000 lives in less than 5 years. And that's a conservative estimate from January.
Now obviously JUST legalization is not the answer. Latin American countries need a stronger government and infrastructure with corruption rooted out. However, it is a step in the right direction and will cut a sizeable slice from Drug Cartel income. Here's some more facts: 48% of the need for drug treatment goes unmet in the U.S., The U.S. has 5% of the world's population but 25% of the world's prisoner population (we are the highest in the world) Only 13% of illegal drug users are African American, yet they make up 67% of those sent to prison for drug offenses. The facts go on and on but the email capacity limit does not. Unfortunately, drug policy reformers have a very poor reputation and image as druggies and people who just want to obtain drugs with less difficulty. Ironically, prohibition works in the favor of the "druggie" and drugs are now cheaper, purer, and more available than ever (Just look at the UN Global Commission report). I don't know what your politics are, but if they happen to be aligned with mine and many others in this coalition, then I urge you to join the rally on Sproul at twelve pm this Friday! https://www.facebook.com/events/336671119728883/
Mark 2
15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Joshua Anthony Lee
B.A. Molecular and Cell Biology - Neurobiology
University of California, Berkeley | May 2012
Jle...@berkeley.edu | Josh...@gmail.com | (510) 854-6731
Jon Graff
Cool, thanks for that great write-up John! I'll definitely try to make it. (ie. I will try not to sleep in too late :P)