I accompanied about 15 other medical marijuana activists to Placer County today, in an action organized by Clark Sullivan under the organizational name "Axis of Love" (see his report below). It was a real struggle to get up and make it down to Civic Center at 530am this morning, but having already gotten Clark to add the Libertarian Party to his press materials, I felt it would be too embarrassing if no LP members were there for this action.
Steve's actual appearance was very brief. His attorney took a low-key approach, and didn't even ask the judge to guarantee his medicine in jail. I think he did mention filing a motion asking for house arrest for Steve; that definitely came up in the post-appearance press conference given by Chris Cattran(?), the assistant D.A. in Placer County who seemed to be the point man pursuing this case. Steve looked very thin, and his hair was quite long (I guess he wasn't able to get the haircut he was seeking according to the transcript of a phone conversation a supporter previously had with him in jail -- I'll forward that separately), but he looked calm and seemed to be in good spirits. As Clark notes, the courtroom held about fifty people; there were perhaps 25 more who didn't make it inside, so from that point of view my presence was somewhat superfluous. I doubt he had time to really see who all was in the crowd, though I'm sure it did him good to see the room packed with supporters.
In terms of outreach however, it was definitely a good thing I went. There were probably six or eight TV cameras there, at least one radio reporter, and a bunch of print media. Clark began the press conference, very ably responding to questions from the assembled reporters about Steve's status, condition, and so on. I spoke up briefly at one point to clarify something he said, and when a reporter asked me to come forward and identify myself if I wanted to say something, Clark introduced me as being with the Libertarian Party of San Francisco, and I was able to get in at least a good couple minutes and answer some questions. Reporters from the Auburn Journal and Sacramento Bee specifically verified who I was, presumably intending to use some of my comments in print. In my comments, I made sure to identify Steve as a former Libertarian Party candidate for governor, expressed the view that he was prosecuted *because* of his role as a political dissident running with the LP on an anti-drug war platform.
During my remarks I had one of the red/white & blue American flag/Statue of Liberty signs with the words "Free Steve Kubby!" on one side, and on the other a "Don't Blame Me, I Voted Libertarian" bumper sticker on the Statue of Liberty. I also brought a bunch of "Let Steve Kubby Live!" buttons that I had made up, which also included the Libertarian Party name and website on them, and many of the supporters who were there being filmed and interviewed visibly wore the buttons. Other Libertarians present at the event included Ann Harrison (reporting for the SF Bay Guardian), and Michael Murphy (candidate for State Assembly). Richard Cowan (of Drug Policy Foundation??) was also there, and of course Steve Kubby's attorney.
I was told by an ABC TV cameraperson that it would be on the national as well as local news, so watch tonight, and if you get a chance to tape anything, please do, and I'll pay you for a copy. Hopefully it won't all be preempted by State of the Union address coverage.
There is another early morning court date for Steve this coming Friday (right on the heels, for me, of my own court date on Thursday!), and transportation will again be arranged from San Francisco. I would strongly encourage as many Libertarians as possible to attend. I expect that there will be just as much media attention on Friday as there was today, and for the LP not to be well represented in standing up for one of our own in this case would be a shame as well as a missed opportunity.
Yours in liberty,
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Clark Sullivan wrote: