8000 danced for drug peace at the Amsterdam Street Party against the Drug War

AMSTERDAM (June 7) - More than eight thousand proponents of drug policy reform have participated in the Street Party against the Drug War in Amsterdam on Saturday June 6^th. The demonstration that started as a rally at a square in the city center, grew into the largest manifestation for legalization of drugs that has ever taken place in the Netherlands. Police spokespersons estimated the number of participants at 7 to 8 thousand, well before the street party had grown to its maximum size. Organisers think the number reached 10.000 eventually.

At noon an initial group of some five hundred protesters gathered at the Beursplein square.
(Ed. note: This is in front of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, between the Royal Palace and the Central Station.)
Reverend Hans Visser, a user support worker from Rotterdam, well-known for the aid he provides to problematic drug users and for his critical views of conventional drug policy, addressed the crowd, denouncing the shameful situation that after all these years of failing drug policy, politicians are still not prepared to use common sense.

At 1pm, the street party started moving, lead by a queue of fifteen large decorated trucks packed with sound-systems, djs, and dancing people. During the joyful journey through town the crowd grew into an exuberant parade, with thousands dancing on thundering basses of house music of all styles. While bystanders watched in amazement, traffic in the city center came to a virtual standstill. After a three-hour tour through the center, the party finally settled on a terrain near the old docks, where it reached its peak, both in terms of size and loudness. The street party lasted until late in the evening before the police asked the organisers to switch off the systems.

The Amsterdam street party was held in the context of the ‘Global Days against the Drug War’, which take place Friday June 5^th through Wednesday 10^th. In 50 cities around the world, discussion forums, demonstrations, seminars, press conferences, street parties, concerts, and other types of events are held. A congress was held in Paris, Friday 5^th and Saturday 6^th, with a demonstration at the Bastille on Sunday 7^th. An event featuring well-known speakers took place in San Francisco on the 6^th, and demonstrations will take place in New York and Moscow on Monday 8^th.

This international event is supported by more than 100 organisations, that have recently united to form the ‘Global Coalition for Alternatives to the Drug War’, at the occasion of the United Nations Special Session of the General Assembly on Drugs which starts this Monday in New York. These organisations insist that it is of great importance that proposals for drug policy reform are heard during the UN session. The coalition is issuing a declaration that will be presented in New York at the Non-Governmental Organisations conference that is part of the UN conference.

The Global Coalition for Alternatives to the Drug War currently consists of more than 100 organisations. Among them are the Lindesmith Center West, the National Organisation for Reform of Marijuana Laws, Coordinamento Radicale Antiprohibizionista, the November Coalition, de Campaign for Equity-Restorative Justice, de Transnational Radical Party, Common Sense for Drug Policy, het Media Awareness Project, de American Society for Action on Pain, the Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp, Forum Droghe, de National Alliance of Methadone Advocates, Mothers against Misuse and Abuse, Drug Reform Coordination Network, and many other organisations.

The Global Days against the Drug War take place in Adelaide, Alsfeld, Amsterdam, Arnsberg, Auckland, Austin, Bellingham, Berlin, Bilbao, Bonn, Brussels, Christchurch, Colville, Dallas, Davenport, Dunedin, Eugene, Fort Lauderdale, Hamburg, Hernani, Houston, Iruņea/Pamplona, Jena, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Malaga, Marbella, Melbourne, Montreal, Moscow, Munich, New Orleans, New York, Norwich, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Schengen, Seattle, Sydney, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, Trier, Tucson, Victoria, Vitoria/Gasteiz, Washington, Wellington en Winnipeg. The declaration of the Global Coalition against the Drug War, information about the coalition member organisations, about the events taking place, about the UN panel, and contact information for the local events, is available at: http://www.stopthedrugwar.org/globalcoalition/