The vigils were quite a success. Over 100 people showed up on February 15, with around 50 on February 17.

VIGIL(S) TO OPPOSE THE WAR ON DRUGS

February 15, 2000 at 5 p.m.
King County Jail
5th & James - Map
Seattle, Washington
Rain or Shine

February 17, 2000 at 3 p.m.
Capitol Building Steps
Capitol Way
Olympia, Washington
Rain or Shine

Speakers for February 15 vigil include:

Nora Callahan, Exec. Dir. November Coalition
Harriet Walden, Mothers for Police Accountability
Matt McCauly, Washington State Libertarians
Robert Lunday, Hemp.Net
Vivian McPeak, Seattle Peace Heathens
Justin Delacour, Seattle Columbia Committee
Joanna McKee, Green Cross
Dominic Holden, The Hemp Coalition
Fred Miller, Peace Action of Washington
Diana Leal, former Columbian coca worker
Chuck Armsbury, November Coalition
Magic Black-Ferguson, Washington Hemp Education Network

On February 15th our country's prison and jail population will reach 2,000,000 people. Over 20 cities around the country have organized vigils on this day in solidarity with Seattle's demonstration against the mass imprisonment of non-violent citizens.

A candlelight vigil will take place in front of the King County Jail to bring attention to the policies that have resulted in tens of thousands of Americans being incarcerated for non-violent drug "crimes", often receiving excessive sentences under the Federal Minimum Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines. In addition to guest speakers, in Seattle two cases will be spotlighted as examples of the human tragedy associated with the failed "War On Drugs."

Renee Boje (www.reneeboje.org/) is an American currently in Canada fighting extradition to the United States where she faces charges that could net her a mandatory sentence of 10 years to life in prison for her alleged part in a medical marijuana garden in California. Her co-defendants are Peter McWilliams and Todd McCormick.

David Miles (www.hemp.net/miles) was a business owner and family man when he was entrapped into selling less than ½ a pound of marijuana to a wired informant posing as a cancer patient. His house was seized and he was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in a state penitentiary, leaving his wife and two young daughters without a home, a husband, or a father.

Contacts: Local: Vivian McPeak, viv@november.org, 206-522-0846
National: Nora Callahan, nora@november.org 509-684-1550

A peaceful and non-violent action Sponsored by:

The November Coalition, The Hemp Coaliation the Washington Hemp Education Network, Hemp.Net and the Libertarian Party of Washington State

Speakers include Michele Miles, wife of David Miles, and Maury Mason, who has been spearheading the Renee Boje case. Please bring candles, signs, banners and dress warm. If you cannot attend please assist in getting the word out to media, other supporting organizations and individuals, and by relentlessly writing Governor Locke, your senators and representatives as well as local and national newspapers.