NIMBIN POLITE SQUAD CIRCUS

Rally for Cannabis law reform.WAKE UP Australia. Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd, MAY 2009.
http://www.NimbinMardiGrass.com/

YOU gotta have a bit of fun, said one Nimbin local as a dozen members of the 'Polite Force' marked the first anniversary of Nimbin's April Fools' Day raid.

It was a year ago yesterday that about 50 police from around the State stormed the Nimbin Museum, Hemp Bar and Hemp Embassy, arresting eight and seizing four kilograms of cannabis.

Last year's raids had a huge impact on us as a community, said former museum manager Michael Balderstone.

Yesterday, under the gaze of international and local media, about a dozen locals dressed in the police garb of blue overhauls re-enacted the raid.

Actually, the 'surprise' raid was re-enacted twice after one local television network was working on hippy time and turned up an hour late.

But this time there were no arrests, with only warnings issued to those found without drugs.

Still, the anger about what locals say were heavy-handed and unnecessary raids last year continues to burn deep.

Nimbin Chamber of Commerce president Dr Wendy Sarkissian said the community was eager to work with police to rid the town of drugs, but was disturbed by the 'lack of respect' shown by police coming in from outside the area.

It was a stunt designed for the media, she said.

The major thing for us is that there is a local community police accord that is positive and sustainable.

But yesterday, backpackers were left to wonder what all the commotion was about as a US television documentary filmed the 'raid' and protesters freely handed around joints - made from the legal herb mug wart.

Nimbin is like the last oasis, or the last frontier, holding out the last ray of hope, said Brenton Metzlea, a senior producer with US-based G4-TV who is filming a one-hour TV special on alternative cultures.

Nimbin is a great place, really laid back, and people are happy to talk to you.

Local police yesterday said the protesters were well-behaved.

It seems the only ones unhappy with the 'Polite Force' yesterday were drug dealers, who thought the protester's antics could herald the arrival of other men in blue overalls with a slightly different name.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Nimbin
• Hemp
• Embassy
• POLITE
• SQUAD

[easyflowz]

wtf is this shit?