Awesome Austin Action
Hi There Vigilizers,
Here's a report on
our actions here. We held a press conference on the capitol steps
at 12 noon. One of our State Representatives, Elliot Naistat,
led off, followed by several other very well spoken people. We
heard someone from Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of
Errants (CURE), a prison reform group, followed by a criminal
defense attorney who works as a law professor, and then a University
of Texas professor of anthropology and leader of the Texas Civil
Rights Project, and others.
One TV channel covered it very well, and there
was an Associated Press reporter present as well as independent
press. Our daily newspaper didn't show.
Later in the day we held the vigil in front
of good ol G. Dubya Bush's mansion. About twenty people showed
up, and a couple more TV channels using good video shots and
an interview with Sebastian of the Texas Hemp Campaign reported
on our efforts.
Upon reflection,
I think we may have diffused the event by scheduling two separate
ones, but yet I knew our Representative and some of the others
wouldn't have come to the vigil. So I'm still trying to figure
out that strategy.
Next plan is to try and get an editorial into
our daily newspaper, The American Statesman.
Thanks for all your support.
Karen Heikkala - Drug Policy Forum of Texas
(Austin) & Vigil Co-ordinator
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