COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of September 20, 2013

 COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of September 20, 2013

 See it in their eyes:  I spent two long days attending the annual Congressional Black Caucus Leadership Conference (5,000 or so attending).  For the first time I had zero.zero   push back on the shirt/message.  I also modified my answer to start with: ‘To eliminate the job option of selling marijuana which causes teens to be shot on a regular basis.  Then I finished with: ‘Catch more pedophiles and others hurting our kids…..’

On a number of persons who heard that, you could see in their faces a wince, a personal connection to a teen being shot/shot dead.  And still the leadership at the conference had no sessions on the War on Drugs/Drug Prohibition (as a policy), even as EVERYONE recognized the harms done to people of color.  See me shaking my head.

PS.. I asked several and they all had the same answer.  It is redundant and unnecessary to point out the horrific racism of  drug policy to a person of color.

? Can I take some credit?  This week Republican, freshman Congressman Steve Stockman became a co-sponsor of HR 1523 – the repeal federal prohibition of marijuana act.  When I met with that office’s legislative assistant back in January, his boss (legislative director) and another LA sat in on the 30 minute meeting.  During August recess I emailed the LD to remind him of our chat and HR 1523.  A week after the return of the Member, they are now on the bill.  Either way…wooohooo!

Reminder:  have you sent your Congressman a letter in support of HR 1523?

This week’s stats:

• 1383 Presentations to Congressional staffers..02  this week
• 40 brief chats with Members of Congress.. 01 this week
• 42 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week (OK State Senator)
• 63 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. 01 this week
• 33 Radio Interviews.. 01 this week
• 16 major conferences attended..  this week (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions.  etc) 01 this week (Congressional Black Caucus)

 COP stats since inception: August 2009

• 34 Appearances on major TV networks..this week(Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
• 22 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine… this week
• 72 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000)
•  2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
• Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders.   Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
• Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 dollars buys all the copy paper COP uses in one year.   Law Enforcement’s voice in opposition to current policy is vital on the Hill to achieve a repeal of federal prohibition.  COP provides that voice.   If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow and want to be a part of the solution…  Go to:

• www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:
• Citizens Opposing Prohibition
• POB 543
• Buckeystown, MD 21717