Peaceful Pothead Prosecution Continues

March 3, 2017

Ed Forchion's message from Mercer County Correctional Facility where he is being held until: Detention Hearing scheduled 3/7/2017 1:30pm At the Mercer County Criminal Court in Trenton NJ.

This is not a Cannabis issue.....

Mercer County NJ continued its relentless attacks on Ed"NJWeedman" Forchion only this time it came 72 miles outside of Trenton in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Parsippany NJ. On Friday 3/3/2017 At approximately 12:20pm The US Marshals descended on the home Edward Forchion shares with his business partner/girlfriend Debi Madaio and her 3 children Arresting Public Enemy 420  and executed a questionable search warrant and arrest. This arrest set a new president for the NJWeedman, being his first Facebook live broadcast.  Forchion's many followers & friends, as well as law enforcement agents were able to watch it all unfold in  real time.  According to Mercer County Records, Fochion had been indicted earlier that week on 2nd and 3rd degree witness tampering 1 charge of each by publicaly naming his accuser, the Prosecutions C.I,  Zev Lapadus, and even going as far as to ask the Court to also release his name and hand over video surveillance seized in the April 2016 Raid on his infamous Trenton temple, referencing his right to face his accuser in a jury trial."I want you all to know I am a POLITICAL PRISONER ...this has nothing to do with Cannabis ..this is a Constitutional issue the right to face my accuser."    Police did not produce a search warrant, and on more than one occasion made reference to the fact that Forchion was broadcasting live on Facebook from inside the house.  The police were refused entrance inside the house by Madaio's daughter, insisting that a search warrant be produced before consent would be given allowing them to enter the home.  The police did call Debi Madaio, who was not at home at the time and told her they were looking for her daughter's boyfriend who was a fugitive.  When Madaio questioned who they were looking for, the police returned with "what kind of mother are you, you don't know who your daughters boyfriend is".  Madaio insisted that she be told who the person was that the police were there to arrest and after many threats of arresting her younger daughter for harboring a fugitive  as well has obstruction if she did not allow them access, they told her they were there to arrest Edward Forchion.  The police did not produce a search warrant, one of them pointing to a window stating "I see him in the window, that's enough probable cause for us to get a warrant". No warrant was ever produced, and Madaio's oldest daughter was told she did not need to see one. The police entered the house as Madaio's daughter begged and pleaded with them, "don't freak out my sister she is autistic, please don't scare her, please don't hurt my dogs"  Which the police replied "if you don't open the door we are going to scare the hell out of her, and we can call animal control if we have too"  The police were not given permission to enter the house, but did so anyway to find Forchion sitting on a chair in the back bedroom.  He was taken into custody without incident. Madaio states that there was a simultaneous police assault on Forchion's Temple in Trenton NJ where all of his camera and computer equipment was once again seized.  Forchion was booked into Mercer County Correctional Facility where he will remain until at least Tuesday when he will go before a judge for a Dentention Hearing this is on the personal request of Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Katz, who was insistent Forchion should be held in custody until trial.  N.J. 'Weedman' appears before judge on witness tampering charges
Donations can be made to PayPal Address Above https://www.paypal.com   

Decarcerate Louisiana Reaches Out to Comrades and Freedom Fighters

Greetings ____________,

We are freedom fighters incarcerated at Angola State Prison and are moving to build our organization Decarcerate Louisiana . We’re advocating for community reinvestment and not more funding into the military, police institutions, jails, and prison construction. We believe in sustainable economies, strong local communities, and that a better world is possible when we all unite for the higher good.

Taking into account our understanding of the racially charged southern strategy mapped out by the segregationist George Wallace, and then Barry Goldwater’s right-wing racial populism, Clinton’s 1994 infamous crime bill, and the 13th Amendment exception clause upholding slavery, it is evident that the prison industrial complex functions as a classist, racial caste system—a continuum of governmental attacks on African-Americans and impoverished people.

Decarcerate Louisiana is organizing to redress this injustice and to battle against systemic racism, classism, inequality, oppression, repression, criminalization and mass incarceration in our communities. We welcome your support in organizational planning and to join us in a broader effort to create an equitable and just system that works for all of us, not just some of us.

Sending light, love, and truth. All Power to the People! Please contact me at the address below.

In solidarity,

Ronald Brooks #385964

General Delivery

Louisiana State Penitentiary
Angola, LA 70712
RonaldBrooks.HumanPlight@Gmail.Com

Black Youth Killed in "Police Involved Shooting" in Bridgeton NJ Today?

There was a police involved shooting and killing of a Black youth in Bridgeton NJ today - the information is still sketchy.

News reports are very sketchy at the moment:

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/police-in-bridgeton-investigate-reported-shooting/article_a7f8423f-0402-51db-9411-42691f17455d.html


More info:
http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2017/02/authorities_investigate_bridgeton_shooting_report.html
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/police-in-bridgeton-investigate-reported-shooting/article_a7f8423f-0402-51db-9411-42691f17455d.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

As information comes in - this will be expanded . . . 

From a local resident:

"They said he been shot four times in the back and they won't let his mother see him yet."

Decarcerate Louisiana Hand Made Card - One of the Nicest Gifts I Have Ever Received

Hand made card sent to me from inside Angola Louisiana . . . there are several very meaningful messages and it is signed by the members of Decarcerate Louisiana,

http://decarceratelouisiana.com/

THE BATTLE CRY OF DECARCERATE LOUISIANA
"THE 13TH AMENDMENT CLAUSE UPHOLDING SLAVERY IS RACIALIZED POLITICS AND SOUTHERN STRATEGY TO CRIMINALIZE BLACKS AND THE POOR!"
:WARS ON DRUGS AND POVERTY IS CLASS AND RACE WAR AGAINST BLACKS AND POOR PEOPLE!
"PRISONS FUNCTION AS A PROFIT-CENTER TO EXPLOIT, SUBJUGATE AND CONTROL BLACKS AND POOR PEOPLE!""
"CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A DE FACTO SCHEME THAT OPERATES TO PERPETUATE SLAVERY!"
"YOUR RACIALIZED POLITICS BUSTED! COOPERATIVE POLITICS WE FOUND!"
"GIVE US COMMUNITY! NOT GHETTOS, SLUMS AND PRISONS!"

(names whited out)
1/29/17
Greetings Bob!  Thanks for being good and true to the struggle for peace and justice and an equitable system that works for all of us.
You have a good heart and for that we are grateful, hopeful and encouraged to go forward.
Thanks for DecarcerateNJ and The NJ Decarcerator  It's the TRUTH!
Thanks for being there and offering us support and  camaraderie.   It's because of links like you that the chain (coalition) is strong.
Also we thank all of your staff, cofounders and staff at DecarcerateNJ for spreading the word and keeping the TRUTH alive.
I encourage you all to stay connected to the sources that give us love, light and truth.  Lots f0o work to be done in the refinement of society and upliftment of mankind.  Always in friendship and solidarity, (name redacted)

1/29/17
Bob,
Brother in ARMS,
Your support speaks volumes for your character which every man is bound to respect and should emulate.  Your confidence in the movement gives an unspoken foundation of validation to push it forward toward its highest goals.  I can't thank you and other way but with the word "Love",
Your faithful brother, (name redacted)

Bob,
Though we have not met yet I have heard of your support to our struggle.  This is our way of saying Thank you Big Time.
(name redacted)

Bob,
Thank you and may God Bless you for all you do for the less fortunate!  Truly sir, you are special!
Always your friend,
(Name redacted)

BOB,
GREETINGS TO YOU COMRADE!  ANGOLA 3 DID THERE PART AND NOW Its ON us to do ours TO Bring About Immediate Change to Lousisana!!  We ARE just getting started, The World Will Feel Us Suun.  Here 4 U, Your Brother.
(name redacted)
DECARCERATELOUSIANA.COM

THE BATTLE CRY OF DECARCERATE LOUISIANA
"UNEEQUAL AND UNDERFUNDED SCHOOL DISTRICTS:MANIFESTS RACIALIZE POLITICS!"|
"GENTRIFICATION AND RENTER DISPLACEMENT IS ATTACK ON BLACK AND POOR LIVES!"
"GERRYMANDERING AND VOTER SUPPRESSION LAWS IS ATTACK ON BLACK AND POOR LIVES!"
"PUT A MORATORIUM ON JAIL AND PRISON CONSTRUCTION!  WE DEMAND THE RETURN OF LBJ'S 'GREAT SOCIETY'!"
"END SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, PRISONER DEGRADATION AND THE PROFIT MOTIVE OF STATE MANAGED PRISON FARM LABOR!"

Bob,

Thank you for your loyalty, commitment, sacrifices and contributions to the struggle.

You truly are a blessing to all of us and we are more than honored to call you our brother from another mother.
You are appreciated.

Proposal: Decarcerate the Garden State to Support Millions for Prisoners August 19 March on Washington

Proposed Course of Action for Decarcerate the Garden State 2017

NJ is fortunate that Jennifer McClendon millionsforprisonersnj@gmail.com  has stepped forward to volunteer for a coordinating role in the to be historic Millions for Prisoners March on August 19. 2017.

http://www.iamweubuntu.com/millions-for-prisoners-human-rights.html 

I propose as a project for January through August for Decarcerate the Garden State that we partner with this national effort – which is supported by many of the “inside” organizations of incarcerated men and women – toward making it a success.

Specifically I propose:

A series of events all over NJ – primarily in the “cities” and areas of the state that are targeted by the mass incarceration due to racial and economic demographics – to promote the goals of Decarcerate the Garden State and the Million Prisoners March.

That we begin communicating to all of the organizations and organizers of the state the details of the planned national march.

That we offer to join Jennifer McClendon and the Million Prisoners March movement in a letter calling upon organizations and individuals to participate.

That we begin the process now of determining the means to provide economic means to get into DC on August 19^th.  We begin to reach out to Church organizations and other institutions that might own or have access to buses and vans. 

That we set up fundraising to provide funded seats to make participation accessible to the communities that are directly impacted (that have a tendency to be impoverished).

That we have an initial meeting at a time that Jennifer McClendon can participate in Newark, NJ – perhaps as an agenda item with Peoples Organization for Progress and from there we set up semi-weekly or weekly phone conferencing.

That we begin to identify organizers around NJ that can assist by setting up an event in their community around the issues of mass incarceration, enslavement of the incarcerated, the 13^th amendment, NJ’s racial disparities in incarceration and participation in the national August 19^th Millions for Prisoners March demanding the Amendment of the 13^th – to remove the exclusion of the incarcerated from the ban of enslavement in the US.

Production of a new issue of NJ Decarcerator highlighting the march and our other NJ work.

To support this effort and second the motion and vote in its favor, write to Decarc@DecarcerateNJ.org and / or participate in the Facebook discussion on this topic in our group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/DecarcerateNJ  

Gov. Christie’s State of the State Ignores Drug Criminalization as Driver of “Addiction Epidemic”

Gov. Christie’s State of the State Ignores Drug Criminalization as Driver of “Addiction Epidemic”

Governor Christie’s 2017 State of the State Address was missing one factual item: The role of drug criminalization in creating what the Governor called an “Addiction Epidemic.” The speech, which was heavy on drug-war fear rhetoric, grossly exaggerated the “addiction epidemic” while ignoring the role of the state’s own policies in creating the nightmare scenarios Governor Christie described in visceral.

The absence of any recognition of the role of drug criminalization is alarming, considering that prohibition policy is creating many of the issues he wants to address. In addition, the role of prescription drugs in causing the initial transition to illicit drugs seems to be based on anecdotes rather than facts. Blaming anyone involved in the drug use cycle, even our doctors, is required doctrine to avoid admitting that prohibition policy is largely responsible for social service deficits, drug overdoses and many of the harms his proposals seek to save people from.

Exaggerating the “Addiction Epidemic”

The Governor claimed the drug epidemic is “more urgent than any other epidemic” due to 1,600 overdose deaths in 2015 in New Jersey. While tragic, this fact is grossly out of context as in 2009 more than 1,900 people died in New Jersey from diabetes alone. Nationally, 1,300 people die each day from cigarette use. This misleading visceral is necessary for the continuation of failed Drug War tactics such as drug criminalization and forced treatment. The Governor’s misleading statistics also ignore the fact that overdoses are counted more than once by the Office of the State Medical Examiner when more than one drug is present in the deceased.

Prohibition is Causing Overdose Deaths

Fentanyl deaths are a direct result of drug criminalization. Using substances that are legal, illegal or prescribed, all carry potential consequences. However, making drugs illegal adds risk due to non-regulation of the drugs. Unregulated drugs mean, the people consuming them wont know the purity of them or if they contain adulterants like Fentanyl. In one year 2013 – 2014 illicit fentanyl deaths rose 115% in Florida and 526% in Ohio. New Jersey’s Fentanyl deaths rose more than 300% in that same time period. To be clear, so long as NJ makes the same policy decisions to criminalize personal drug use, this will be a growing problem. Dozens of countries have had exceptional results reducing mortality and improving social outcomes by offering regulated heroin to people who already have a heroin use disorder and have failed regular treatment.

Prohibition is a Barrier to Treatment

Governor Christie spoke of removing barriers to treatment. Viewing treatment, as a significant solution is problematic as nearly 40% of people discharged from treatment in NJ, stated that they did not partially achieve their goal and nearly one in four people were still actively using drugs/alcohol at discharge, according to the 2015 NJ Substance Abuse Monitoring System. Even more concerning is that drug overdose deaths are the 3rd leading cause of death inside NJ’s drug rehab programs according to the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Because NJ has the most regressive compulsory drug court system, those people forced into treatment slots, many of which have no interest in treatment, take up space while those who want treatment are turned away. This is with the knowledge that compulsory treatment is less effective and often harmful when compared to voluntary treatment. Decriminalizing drug use will open a significant number of treatment slots in addition to not squandering resources. Simply appropriating more money to treatment providers, allows them to continually drug-war profiteer by trapping people in their programs while not addressing the deficit.

Prescription Drug Reality

The majority of people who use prescription drugs do so without any complications. Furthermore, the Governor’s proposal to have Attorney General Porrino issue an emergency rule limiting the initial supply of opioids to 5 days down from a 30 day supply. This constant barrage on prescription pills will have negative consequences as people with substance use disorder histories already face discrimination in receiving appropriate pain management as recognized by the World Health Organization. Not receiving medically appropriate pain management can jeopardize a person’s recovery. Lastly, it is well established that 75% of the people using prescription opiates for non-medical purposes get them from other sources than doctors so restricting genuinely needed practice will not address this issue (SAMHSA).

Forcing Criminal Justice Interaction

Most people arrested for drug possession have committed no harm to person or property and would not be involved in the criminal justice system if not for prohibition policy. In 2014 New Jersey arrested more than 42,000 people for drug possession alone. Exposure to the criminal justice system for drug use is intentionally harmful and carries severe risk exposure. The recent case of Katie Lee Thomas is a harrowing example as she was arrested for simple drug paraphernalia and found dead in a jail cell a few hours later in Neptune Township. Investing in community education and engagement on this issue would be a more effective measure while continuing non-coercive medicine drop-offs.

Help Not Handcuffs takes Governor Christie at his word that he will “accept ideas from any corner of the state” and we call on him to truly treat drug use as any other health issue meaning there would be no arrest and no forced treatment. This would require ending the harmful drug prohibitions via decriminalization, ending forced treatment and considering effective regulation of substances.

Randy Thompson

Help Not Handcuffs

Some critical thinking on mass incarceration.

Some critical thinking.

For the sake of argument lets go with the hypothesis that in 1865 the US wanted to keep slavery going albeit under a new name and new system. What would they need to put into place to make such a continuation work?

Well 1st of all it would have to be legalized right? 
The 13TH amendment covers that.

Secondly you would need a new designation for such "unfree" persons right? Something that already exists would be best so you could just "include" this new unfree person.
The term Criminals would work.

Next you would need a system that covers all aspects of this new enslavement under legal guise. From the initial "criminalization" via laws and codes that would allow a veritable army to simply gather bodies unopposed, (mass incarceration) and a way to carry these bodies from initial arrest through to incarceration right? Like an assembly line. (Courts)

You certainly don't want to give them trials because the entire setup is unjust so you would need to bypass the 6th amendment right?
It would look like it does now. 95% of all felony cases ending in an unconstitutional plea bargain forced upon a mainly minority population by a 95% white prosecutorial pool.

You would need facilities to hold them in mass quantities using as few resources as possible to keep them alive. (Prisons, detention centers and jails.) 1 in 8 prisoners in the entire world are African Americans.

Now you can't call them slaves anymore so people aren't born as slaves but they can damned sure spend time enslaved. As much time as possible so in this new form of slavery recidivism would be a key factor. Reusable resources.

"Using a Bureau of Justice Statistic study finding inmates released from state prisons have a five-year recidivism rate of 76.6%, the USSC study calculated comparable federal prisoners released have a 44.7% re-arrest rate after five years."

You would also want to put in a safety feature for those whom the system is not meant to oppress that get caught in its grasp. So you would use economic advantages available to those with privilege. Bail, lawyers’ fees etc. Simply put the cost of freedom out of reach for the poor and make sure the population who are poor are dominated by those whom the oppression is aimed at in general. (Institutional racism and for profit justice)

And what about the people who jump through all the hoops. Serve their time. Become model prisoners and unavoidably earn an exit from enslavement? You would make it as hard as possible for them to stay out of prison by taking away any rights, privileges and limiting their opportunities for self-sustenance. (Collateral consequences) Thus herding them right back where they came from.

And how do you make this entire system self sustaining and perpetual? Well you would have to turn the communities of the targeted population into high crime, high poverty, low income areas and then send in your army to collect them at any time for any multitude of reasons. Generation after generation. Father to son, mother to daughter.

And how do you keep them there with limited escape options? Limit education opportunities. There was a reason blacks weren't allowed to read. Why it was literally illegal. Fredrick Douglas told us how that works and why its feared by your oppressor. Knowledge makes a man (woman or child) unfit to be a slave.

And there.... is how slavery can happen right under your nose every day and you would never think it wrong.

New Abolitionists Radio
Move To Abolish 21st Century Slavery
Decarcerate the Garden State (NJ)

For a better understanding of the New Abolitionists movement we suggest watching
Slavery by Another Name PBS &  13TH  in that order. 

For historical perspectives You can also read both Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl If you want info right now in a short easy to understand video presentation try these poetic presentations.