Four Police Cruisers and a Van to Cite Three Joint Smokers at Ashkenaz

A celebration in honor of the 40th anniversary of the historic People's Park takeover transpired inside Ashkenaz walls while three party-goers--- two men and one woman--- smoked a joint in a vehicle in the nearby parking lot. One officer in a police cruiser discovered the smoke emanating from the vehicle, and confiscated the evidence. The owner of the vehicle was asked to step out, and cooperated. Nevertheless, the officer called for back-up, and three other police cruisers plus a van materialized on the scene.

The scene began to draw the attention of the people inside Ashkenaz, and a small crowd of People's Park founders and activists formed around the scene of the crime. The owner of the vehicle was asked to take his shoes and socks off, which were searched, and was placed in the back of a police cruiser. The other offending male was also asked to step out of the vehicle. He was handcuffed and placed in another police cruiser.

Meanwhile, the crowd was yelling objections at the actions of the police, the excessive show of force, and the excessive waste of tax dollars being committed, while some video-taped and took photos. Finally, the offending female was asked to step out of the vehicle. She was not searched, but asked to empty her pockets. She stood, watched by an officer, while another officer searched the vehicle.

The scene took on a circus-like chaos--- police searching for more illicit material that was not there, people shouting in protest at the police--- all to result in three citations given for a misdemeanor 11357(b), Smoking Marijuana, and the three offenders free to go to smoke more.

Thinking of this event of last night, I wonder how it is this ridiculous and wasteful scene took place, while the nearby skate park poisons the children who use it, members of the community lack the resources to eat well, and violence is used by those who were never given the opportunity to do otherwise. What kind of violence is this upon the people? What was all this hullaballoo for?

In the context of the anniversary of the founding of People's Park, this seemingly small event holds the message that there is much to be done for the rights of people and the excesses of the land and drug war.