November Coalition Goes to the Fair

By Marcella Perrine, TNC Regional Leader

From April 9th to the 12th I ran a booth at the Maricopa County Fair in Phoenix, Arizona. I wanted to educate people on the suffering caused by our current drug war policy.

Many know about the injustice but feel helpless to do anything about it. A lot of people just didn't get the whole booth. Some thought I was promoting drugs and their use. They were the ones that did what I called "a first run by". "You take all the dealers out and cut their heads off! That's how you get rid of drugs."

Like I said, some just don't get it.

A little girl looked at my razor wire pins and asks if she could have one. I asked her if she knew what they were for and she said, "Yes, my dad is in prison". I gave away more POWD pins than I sold. These all went to children. If we think we're not leaving a horrible legacy for our youth then we are sadly mistaken. Children know all about drug war injustice.

Some of the vendors selling their wares did not like me being there. In fact I had one even move his booth because he couldn't stand looking at the laminates. One was friendly until she found out what the booth was about and another ran around on his golf cart telling others his opinion of it all. "Just do like they do in Singapore, Cut their heads off. That would stop the war on drugs!" Some just won't be educated.

One of the most effective tools I had was the prisoner laminates from off "The Wall" section of the November Coalition web site. To all of you in prison that haven't submitted your pictures and stories to November please do. This does have an impact and is one of the most effective ways to give you a voice. Please know that I wanted to use everyone of you.

The Reconsider literature was extremely popular. Teachers here in Arizona know just how corrupt and ineffectual the DARE Program has become.

To all of you that advocate for November or other reform groups this is a great way to get your message out. I have no regrets doing this and plan on having two booths next year.

I'm not scared.

Marcella in Arizona

P.S. One of my most favorite days was taking that picture in front of that stupid tank of Sheriff Joe's!

For more from Regional Volunteer Marcella Perrine, Click Here.