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Hundreds Protest Drug War & Mass Incarceration!

by United for Drug Policy Reform
Hundreds of people turned out at the San Francisco City Hall Friday, June 17th, to participate in the "Communities Rising to End the Drug War and Mass Incarceration" rally and march to protest the 40 year "war on drugs" and continued criminalization of the poor, the addicted and communities of color.
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Hundreds of people turned out at the San Francisco City Hall Friday, June 17th, to participate in the "Communities Rising to End the Drug War and Mass Incarceration" rally and march to protest the 40 year "war on drugs" and continued criminalization of the poor, the addicted and communities of color.

The spirited and militant protest then marched to the state and federal buildings nearby. Working and poor people struggling with addiction fill the prisons and jails of the US. This country has the dubious distinction of having the largest per capita incarcerated population in the world. Protesters called for drug policy reform that would emphasize rehabilitation versus the current policy based on punitive measures. They also demanded human rights to prisoners isolated in the notorious Pelican Bay Prison in Northern California.

"Communities Rising to End the Drug War and Mass Incarceration" July 17th, protest and march was organized and sponsored by ACLU of Northern California, America Friends Service Committee (AFSC), All of Us or None, Berkeley Needle Exchange Emergency Distribution, California Coalition for Women Prisoner (CCWP), California Partnership, Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB), Community United Against Violence (CUAV), Critical Resistance (CR), Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), Harm Reduction Coalition, Justice Now, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC), OASIS Clinic, SF Drug Users Union, TGI-Justice Project, These Cuts Won’t Heal, and United for Drug Policy Reform.

Communities Rising SF march and rally, as well as other statewide events covered in the BayView:
http://sfbayview.com/2011/groups-rally-across-california-to-end-mass-incarceration-and-the-40-year-war-on-drugs/

ABC 7 News:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&id=8198142

All photos taken by Bill Hackwell:
http://www.billhackwell.com/

For more information on United for Drug Policy Reform:
http://drugpolicyreform.org/
udpr [at] mail.com
510-402-5423

Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB)
http://curbprisonspending.org

The Pelican Bay Hunger Strike:
http://www.prisons.org/hungerstrike.htm

Critical Resistance:
http://criticalresistance.org

SF Drug Users Union:
http://www.sfdrugusersunion.org

Drug Policy Alliance:
http://www.drugpolicy.org





§UDPR's Shanti Randles
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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Shanti Randles of United for Drug Policy Reform leads the Chants, "When They Say Drug War, We Say No More!"
§Bato Talamantez
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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Shut Down the SHU! Human Rights for Pelican Bay Prisoners Now! Support the July 1st Pelican Bay Prisoners Hunger Strike!
§SFDUU's Isaac Jackson
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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Isaac Jackson and Alexandra Goldman of the San Francisco Drug Users Union.
§UDPR's Dr. Diana Sylvestre
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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"Dealing with drug use by building more prisons is like fighting cancer by building more cemeteries," said Dr. Diana Sylvestre, founder of OASIS Clinic in Oakland and United for Drug Policy Reform.
§Who's Streets? Our Streets!
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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United for Drug Policy Reform and Californians United for a Responsible Budget lead the militant march through the streets.
§Critical Resistance!
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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§Alexander Mitra
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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Alexandra Mitra, representing CA State Senator Leland Yee declares "Leland Yee fights with you for drug policy reform!"
§Community Banners!
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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§Rachel Jackson
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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Rachel Jackson of the New Years Movement for Justice for Oscar Grant speaks on the racist war on communities of color.
§Cristina Guiterrez, Barrio Unido
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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Cristina Guiterrez of Barrio Unido closes the protest, "Sisters and Brothers, we must keep organizing!"
§Our Children Our Future!
by United for Drug Policy Reform
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Little girl with United for Drug Policy Reform flag and wearing Pelican Bay Hunger Strike Solidarity button.
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From "Stop the Drug War"
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 4:13AM
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