Dear allies –
Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly are writing a Tale of Two Cities– in one New York City, marijuana possession was decriminalized in 1977; people are not stopped and frisked enmasse; the police do not chase people into their homes and shoot them (RIP Ramarley Graham).In the other New York City, over 700,000 people were stoppedlast year by NYPD, even though most were entirely innocent of any wrong doing; tens of thousands were illegally searched, falsely charged, arrested andincarcerated for marijuana possession – even though it’s not a crime in New York; and young people are criminalized in their schools, harassed in theirown communities, and are even chassed into their own homes and shot, for suspicion of possessing marijuana.
This May 12 – a day before Mothers Day — join your fellow New Yorkersto demand change. Join us to write a different story. Join us to reject Bloomberg and Kelly’s Tale of Two Cities. Join us to call for equity and justice, and reunite our City!
What: A Tale of Two Cities: March and Rally to End Illegal Arrests and Biased Police Practices
When: Saturday May 12th, 2012, 12pm NOON
Where: Foley Square between Lafayette St. and Center Street, Take the 4, 5 or 6 train to Brooklyn Bridge.
Who: VOCAL – NY, Institute for Juvenile Justice Reform andAlternatives; Center for NuLeadership; Drug Policy Alliance (list in formation)– see recent NY Times article below about the marijuana arrests andstop-and-frisk!
For more info, contact Chino Hardin at chino@ijjra.orgor 718-484-5884 or Alfredo Carrasquillo at alfredo@vocal-ny.org or (718)415-9254.
