DPFT Media Advisory for September 22 and 23, 2000

DRUG POLICY FORUM OF TEXAS
1425 Blalock Road, Suite 109 / Houston, TX 77055
In Houston phone (713) 784-3196, from elsewhere 1-888-511-DPFT

Seeking to establish a forum where policy alternatives to the war on drugs can be discussed by academicians, policy analysts, public office holders, and other interested citizens. Serving the public by providing information and expert opinion about legal and illegal drugs and the issues surrounding them.

MEDIA ADVISORY – For September 22 and 23, 2000

To: Assignment Editors
Contact: G. Alan Robison 713-784-3196
or Kevin Aplin with the Journey for Justice at 321-258-6857

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Journey for Justice to Begin in Houston on Friday

Press Conference to be Held in Tranquility Park at 12:30 PM

The Journey for Justice, a caravan of family members of drug war prisoners, medical marijuana patients and other citizens interested in drug policy reform will begin its march towards Austin on Friday. The tour will include vigils, street theater and rallies at key locations to highlight various aspects of America’s failed war on drugs.

Marchers will begin to assemble at 9:00 AM near the Harris County Detention Center at the corner of Carolyn Avenue. A wheelchair-led brigade will pass through the streets of Houston. Starting at 10:00 AM the group will move down Smith Avenue towards Tranquility Park, where a press conference will begin at 12:30 PM. The moving caravan will leave Tranquility Park enroute to Huntsville via Conroe shortly after the press conference.

Participants in the press conference will include Jerry Epstein, President of the Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Kevin Zeese, President of Common Sense for Drug Policy, Greg Gladden, President of the ACLU of Texas, Bill Boman of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, Robert Muhammad of the Nation of Islam, David Cobb, secretary of the Green Party of Texas, and Gil Guillory, Libertarian candidate for Congress. Jodi James will represent the Journey for Justice.

Zeese recently joined Arianna Huffington and other prominent reformers in testifying against the war on drugs before the Congressional Black Caucus.

At the end of the session, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee joined Reps. John Conyers, Charlie Rangel, and Maxine Waters in recognizing that our current drug policy is badly in need of reform. The Journey for Justice is seeking to deliver that message to as many Texans as the marchers can reach.

On Saturday, vigils are scheduled throughout the day in Huntsville. The group will vigil at the Goree Unit from 12:30 to 1:30 PM, will make a pass on the Walls Unit, and stand vigil at the Holiday Unit from 3:30 until dusk.