"Let me hear them. It's
very important that we hear young people.'' -- Says Reno.
As Long As They Are Not Defending Medical Marijuana Users.
Another One We Couldn’t Make Up.
(Marijuananews
note: This is almost beyond parody. My good friend Jeff Jones of the Oakland Cannabis
Buyers' Cooperative bought a table at Friday civic event that featured Attorney General
Janet Reno. Jeff’s guests included San Francisco DA Terence Hallinan, and a reporter
from a very important publication. It was a rather classic civic gesture with an important
political twist. Reno is trying to suppress the medical marijuana movement.Jones was
not planning on any demonstration. That would have been rude to his hosts. Just by being
there he was making his statement – the medical marijuana movement is an important
part of the Oakland community.
See
Oakland Renews Its
"Declaration Of A Local Public Health Emergency
With Respect To Safe, Affordable Access To Medical Cannabis."
The Declaration Will Be Renewed Every Two Weeks As Long As Necessary!
However, others were not so polite. Reno was cordial to the defenders of convicted
– probably framed – murderer, Mumia Abu-Jamal, who interrupted her, but not to
Jones.
The San Francisco Chronicle did not miss the irony of it all. As I said, we could not
make this up.)
December 4, 1999
From The San Francisco Chronicle
chronletters@sfgate.com
http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
http://www.sfgate.com/conferences/
By Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
PROTESTS INTERRUPT RENO SAFETY SPEECH
Attorney General Janet Reno urged Oakland business leaders yesterday to work with police
and educators to help reduce violence in a speech that was interrupted by a boisterous
protest on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of murdering a police officer.
Reno told 500 people at a luncheon meeting of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
that they should use their business acumen to help ensure that recent drops in crime
continue. Reno cited youth programs like the Oakland Athletics' restoration of inner-city
baseball fields as examples businesses can use to help develop safer communities.
"We should harness the power, ingenuity and the resources to further our advantage in
the fight against crime and end the culture of violence in our society,'' Reno said.
"We cannot become complacent,'' she said, noting that the "unprecedented
economic prosperity'' should provide the impetus for businesses to take action.
Reno, the nation's top law-enforcement officer, said Oakland can become stronger if the
elements of business, education and policing work together, themes that were echoed
yesterday in remarks by Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown and City Manager Robert Bobb.
"Business is the glue that makes it happen,'' said Reno, who drew a standing ovation.
At the start of her speech, about 50 people protesting on behalf of Abu-Jamal began
yelling outside the doors of the luncheon at the Oakland Marriott. They waved signs and
chanted, "Janet Reno, give it up, turn it loose and cut the noose'' and ``Free
Mumia.''
Protesters said they wanted Reno to open a Department of Justice investigation into
alleged corruption by the Philadelphia Police Department that they claim prevented
Abu-Jamal from getting a fair trial.
Abu-Jamal, 45, was convicted of murdering a Philadelphia police officer in 1981 and was
sentenced to death. In October, a federal judge stayed his execution, which had been set
for Thursday, as the former journalist began another round of appeals.
Oakland police shepherded the demonstrators outside, where they began pounding on the
doors. But as the protest ended, another began inside as four Oakland women who had bought
tickets to the event stood up and interrupted Reno as she began speaking.
Taking off their jackets to reveal white shirts reading, ``New Trial for Mumia,'' Maria
Cordero, 23, and Edget Betru, 25, told Reno that she should look into Philadelphia police
practices if she truly cared about community safety.
Police, including Oakland Police Chief Richard Word and Union City
officers who were giving a presentation, surrounded the women and prepared to escort them
out, but Reno said, "Let me hear them. It's very important that we hear young
people.''
The attorney general then told the women that she would meet with them afterward. She
spent a few minutes with them at the end of the event and said she would look into whether
a probe was needed.
Reno was not as cordial to Jeff Jones, executive director of the shuttered Oakland
Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, a group that has been battling the federal government over
its zero-tolerance stance on medical marijuana. Jones said Reno refused to talk to him
because of pending litigation involving the Oakland club.
See http://www.rxcbc.org/
Jones said Reno's appearance in Oakland was hypocritical given the
federal government's stance and the fact that Oakland city officials have openly supported
medical marijuana.
The Oakland club was among a number of groups that had a banner prominently displayed at
the luncheon. San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan, a vocal
medical-marijuana advocate, was among those seated at the marijuana club's table.
See
"Let
Health Workers Distribute Medical Marijuana" -- San Francisco D.A. Hallinan Says
Again
"We wanted to show her that we're not going away,'' Jones said.
Copyright: 1999 San Francisco Chronicle
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