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Date Posted:
7/7/2003


Protest Against Rockefeller Drug Laws
by:Damali Driskell

Wednesday June 4th marked the long anticipated protest of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Activists, politicians, and celebrities joined as one in City Hall Park to express the widespread public dismay triggered by the drug laws. Speakers at the event included record executives, producers, and promoters, Russell Simmons and P. Diddy, rapper Fat Joe, and political figures Andrew Cuomo, and Tom Golisano. Attendance at the rally was estimated to be 20 to 50 thousand people, well short of the one hundred thousand- plus people initially expected to attend the event. Many people were deterred from attending because of the poor weather as well as police discouragement. Of the people who did attend, almost all came to tell the legislature to “Drop the Rock”.

The event was sponsored by The Countdown to Fairness Coalition, the Hip Hop Summit Action Network, the Mothers of the New York Disappeared, and the Drop the Rock Coalition. The Mothers of the New York Disappeared is an organization of women whose relatives, especially children were or are imprisoned under the Rockefeller Drug Laws. The Hip Hop Summit Action Network, headed by Russell Simmons and directed by Benjamin Chavez is involved in getting hip hop artists involved in political and community issues. They organized the spring protest against cuts in education. The Drop the Rock Coalition is at the forefront of spreading information about the drug laws as well as ways to repeal them.

The Rockefeller Drug Laws were enacted in 1973 by the then-Governor, Nelson Rockefeller. The laws order long prison sentences for people caught possessing or selling relatively small amounts of drugs, regardless of criminal history or circumstances. The harshest aspect of the legislation mandates a fifteen year-old to life in prison for possessing four or more ounces of an illegal drug or selling two or more ounces of an illegal drug.

Darryl Best is a forty six-year old father of four. He had no criminal history. Best made the mistake in 2002 of signing for a package for his uncle, which turned out to have cocaine inside. He is serving a fifteen year-to-life sentence in a maximum security prison.

Activists stress that they do not support illegal drug use or trade. Their mission revolves around the possibility of a second chance. They want those that have made the mistake of involving themselves with narcotics, especially on a minor level, to be given lighter sentences. They also want to see alternative methods of punishment that are more productive than incarceration implemented more frequently. The prison population has soared as a result of the Rockefeller Drug Laws, leaving a burden on taxpayers and forcing cutbacks in other areas like education.

The biggest issue dividing the coalition is the choice between repeal and reform. While some activists demand nothing less than complete repeal of the laws, others say they should think realistically. They believe that the government is not going to take them seriously and it would be best to make the most pressing reform when they get the opportunity. Some in favor of repeal say that the reformers are giving up too easily and Albany will use that to its advantage. The Countdown to Fairness Coalition is split about the issue; the Drop the Rock Coalition and the Mothers of the New York Disappeared, who have been part of the fight for decades want repeal. The Hip Hop Summit, which joined the cause more recently and gets more publicity with its celebrities, wants reform.

The rally attracted many teens and college students with its long list of celebrities. Many came to express their opinions on the matter. Ryan Price,25, felt that the government was especially oppressive to specific aspects of society. Halle Williams, a student at NYU, said that the laws were wasteful of resources which could also go towards improving other public areas, such as schools. She also felt that as an African American, the Rockefeller Drug Laws affected her personally, because of its impact on her community. 96% of the 19,000 people in jail under the drug laws are black or Hispanic.

George Ladee was an audience member victimized by the drug laws. He served 7 _ years in prison. He, like Anthony Papa, ran a package across town with the promise of money. Ladee said that the laws have ruined many lives.

In a recent bid at reform, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced a plan to re-pass the bill with some changes. “Not good enough,” says the Drop the Rock Coalition, which is firmly bent on repeal. More rallies will be held in the future, and letters of opposition have been sent to Albany. The fight continues over the fate of all the men and women imprisoned under the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

 

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