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Peacebus will celebrate INDEPENDENCE FROM AMERICA DAY in Byron Bay with a cannabis law reform rally, a drum up, a dance through the streets to the Byron courthouse, a Burning Bush and words of prophecy.
The message we want to get across is: No more sniffer dog raids! End the Drug War! Resist the US global tyranny by acting locally!
Our aim is to make the event joyful, artful and safe.
The action will be in support of Rusty Harris, primary producer from Barkers Vale and sniffer dog resistance hero will be in court to have charges arising form his arrest at the first sniffer dog operation in Byron Bay in March 2001heard. Rusty is challenging the legaity of the sniffer dog search that led to his arrest .
Tell your friends about it. Come and become visible for peace, freedom and justice. Make a statement with costume and signage.
Let's build community as we go. Our governments betray us. Let's re invent the state. There is no justice. Just us!
Watch this space for further updates. Messages of support welcomed.
Here is a downloadable jpeg flyer. Or the same flyer as a pdf file.
Here are the event details again:
Thursday 4 July 2002
from 10.30 am assemble in Apex Park, Byron Bay
about 11.30 am dance through the streets to Byron courthouse
Mardi Grass time in Byron Bay
about noon witness to a BURNING BUSH
Here is how it looked last year.
Here is the Media Release of 1 July 2002:
Speaking out against US wars
Cr Sandra Heilpern, the recently elected Green on Byron Shire Council, will speak at the Independence from America Day rally in Byron Bay next Thursday 4 July.
In reply to the invitation to speak at the rally she replied ³I would love to be part of this. I thought I would talk a bit about wars and innocent victims and ask, who are the victims in the so called wars against drugs and against terrorism?²
The rally will assemble in Apex Park, Byron Bay, from 10.30 am Thursday 4 July in Apex Park, Byron Bay.
At about 11.30 am Robin Harrison, the Byron street performer whose djembe rap blew the cover and the confidence of the police conducting the last sniffer dog operation in Byron Bay, will lead a drum up through the CBD to the courthouse.
Ganja Faeries, the street marching stars of the Nimbin Mardi Grass, will lead the dance through the streets.
At about noon outside the Byron Courthouse a cardboard effigy of George Bush and his Whitehouse/Jailhouse will burn. Gina LaCosta, the hottest performance poet in the Rainbow Region, will give the voice to the prophesies of the Burning Bush.
The celebration will acknowledge the passage of over 12 sniffer dogs free months in Byron and support sniffer dog resistance hero, Rusty Harris, who will be in court again that day for another hearing of charges relating to his arrest in the first Byron Bay sniffer dog operation of March 2001. Rusty has challenged the legality of the search.
Peacebus organiser Graeme Dunstan reports that feedback in support of the event has been very positive and that he is expecting a big turn out.
³This timely carnival of liberation can expect to have global witness and be a source of inspiration and hope for many², he said. ³Now is the time to be visible for peace. Make a sign, carry a flag, wear a costume, dance for freedom.²
Further information
Website: www.peacebus.com/FourthJuly
Cr Sandra Heilpern 02 6680 7499
Graeme Dunstan Peacebus 0412 609 373
Rusty Harris 0427 953 344
Here is the text of a letter from the Senior Environmental Health Officer from the Byron Shire Council dated 28 June to which Graeme has replied by saying "Thank you but no thank you" and wishing the poor deluded thing a happy Independence from America Day..
28 June 2002
Dear Mr Dunstan
Request for Approval to Erect a Banner
I refer to your e-mail dated 18 June 2002 expressing your disappointment with the earlier response from Council dated 13 June 2002 to your request to erect a banner.
Your later e-mail explains that a community demonstration is also proposed. Accordingly, approval subject to a range of conditions to allow the use Apex Park for the conduct of the rally has been given. Further approval to erect a banner will be given when proof of public liability insurance and an application form is received. It should also be noted that the approval relates to the use of Apex Park only. There is to be no disruption to pedestrian and vehicular traffic or road closures by your groups activities.
Temporary approval is given to Peacebus / Coalition to Prevent Sniffer Dog Operations in Byron Bay to use part of Apex Park on Thursday 4 July 2002 between 10am and 12 midday, subject to the following conditions:
1 That you cover your event with suitable ³public risk indemnity² insurance to the minimum amount of $10 million. You are to supply a copy of the certificate of currency¹ which notes the interests of Byron Shire Council as the Corporate Manager of the Reserve Trust and the NSW Minister for Lands before you use the Parks.
2 The approval relates to the use of Apex Park to the east of the surf club.
3 That you shall not interfere with the amenity of the area and you shall ensure peace and good order are maintained at all times whilst you are in Apex Park. That you and members of your group and persons attending your event shall comply with the sign posted regulations at all times you use Apex Park.
Note: Fires are not permitted.
4 No obstruction to pedestrians or traffic shall be caused by your event and you.
5 That any and all sound amplification equipment must be kept to the absolute minimum and not to exceed background noise by 5 dB(A). You are requested to direct speakers away from the residential and commercial properties wherever possible in open area venues.
6 That any prepared food sold through an outlet at your event must comply with the Food Act NSW and Council¹s adopted food code. Should you require further advice relating to the sale of food, please contact a Health officer from Council during office hours.
7 That you will be required to pay a security (bond) of $500.00, made payable to Council, which will be refunded to you in full, unless the Parks requires rehabilitation as a result of your stay, or that any damage sustained to the reserve as a result of the event being held shall be made good, repaired or replaced by the applicant of this event.
8 That it will be your responsibility to remove all rubbish and litter from the Park, throughout the event, and that you may arrange for a commercial service of your choice to remove the rubbish.
9 That all access pathways must be left clear at all times, and no obstruction or restriction caused on access points. All pathways must be checked by you or your representative constantly to ensure members of the public are not hindered in any way. That site location is your responsibility, the stalls are to be restricted to the Park and no stall shall be permitted onto the footpath or road reserve for any reason.
10 That you ensure all power lines used for amplified sound or stalls are safe and above the ground and any tie down ropes used on stalls or other equipment are clearly marked.
11 The provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 are to be complied with at all times (For example all power leads are to be tested and tagged).
12 That you notify the NSW Police Service in Byron Bay of the event date and that you comply with any and all directions issued by the Police or Council connected with this event.
11 You are required to further contact Council if you are proposing to install or construct any temporary structures on the site. For example tent, stages.
12 The following fees and charges are to be paid before commencement of the event:
a) Application fee $100.00
b) Bond fee $500.00. (see Condition 7)
This approval shall be considered revoked, if the approval was obtained by fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of facts and for the failure to comply with a condition of the approval.
Right of Review and Appeal
If you are aggrieved with this determination, a request for a review can be made to Council within 28 days from the date of this Notice.
Yours faithfully
Janelle Bancroft
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER
Here is the Media Release of 21 June 2002:
Independence from America Day 4 July
Independence from America Day will be celebrated in Byron Bay with a cannabis law reform rally, a dance and drum parade through the CBD and the witnessing of prophesies emanating from a Burning Bush outside the Byron courthouse.
The rally will assemble to hear speakers from 10.30 am Thursday 4 July in Apex Park, Byron Bay. The street parade will move off at about 11.30 am and the Bush will burn around about noon.
The celebration will acknowledge the passage of over 12 sniffer dogs free months in Byron and support sniffer dog resistance hero, Rusty Harris, whose will be in court again that day for another hearing of charges relating to his arrest in the first Byron Bay sniffer dog operation of March 2001.
"We are planning a colourful and theatrical event", said organiser Graeme Dunstan of Peacebus.com. "We want to make it plain in the most artful way possible that we want no more sniffer dog operations, or any other kind of US Drug War policing, in the Rainbow Region."
Graeme Dunstan met with the Byron Duty Officer, Inspector Owen King, today and negotiated the protest without any difficulties.
Mr Dunstan reports that the Inspector King was very helpful and told him that local police had no issue with the protest and that they had no plans for further sniffer dog operations in Tweed police area command.
Inspector King said that local police were waiting to hear the outcome of the Carr government¹s appeal to the NSW Supreme Court against a Sydney magistrate¹s ruling that the dog searches were illegal. This is the same wait that has Rusty Harris on hold in the courts.
Inspector King reckoned the NSW Supreme Court might take 'forever' to give the appeal a hearing and a decision.
"Forever will be too soon if it signals the return of the US Drug war to the streets of Byron Bay", said Mr Dunstan.
"But so long as Rusty Harris is on hold in the courts we are assured on no more sniffer dogs and we have cause to celebrate a local people¹s victory in resistance to the US, its Drug War and its global tyranny."
Further information
Graeme Dunstan Peacebus 0412 609 373
Michael Balderstone Nimbin HEMP Embassy 02 6689 1842
Rusty Harris 0427 953 344
Here is the text of a context setting letter to the editor of the Byron Shire Echo 12 June.
Michael McDonald
Editor
Byron Echo
Dear Michael,
Letter to the Editor: Independence from American Day
Rusty Harris, primary producer for Barkers Vale and eco-warrior hero of Timbarra, responded with defiance and non-cooperation when he was dog searched and arrested during to the first sniffer dog operation in Byron last March. Later in court he pleaded not guilty and challenged the legality of the search.
Rusty was the early spark of resistance. Then came the resistance of the Byron Bay street performers, Robin Harrison in particular. The second Byron raid was met with the Battle of the Busker. Robin followed the dog squad, stalked them with drum and rap, named them, and shamed them, such that they were driven away from Byron public places in derision.
As the dog police demonstrated their Drug War ways to more and more Rainbow Region communities, more and more outrage followed until a veritable fire of anger was flaring in response to this unannounced and undesired change in policing. Your front page at the time, dear editor, told it straight. And so did mayor Tom Wilson. I understand that Byron Chamber of Commerce members too were whispering quietly to the police: ³Not appropriate. Get smart!²
Twelve months now and no more sniffer dogs. Police seem friendly and responsive again. The good sense of harm reduction strategies and community building tactics seems to prevail once more. Thank God.
But where did it come from? Why was Byron the target for the first raid? What officer suggested it? Name him and send him to the boondocks, I say. May the malice in his mind and the dysfunctions of his community practice, no more poison this place or its police stations.
Meanwhile Rusty Harris is still in court process, a punishment in itself. His next hearing is set as 4 July.
Friends of Rusty, and friends of freedom generally, are inviting everyone and anyone who is grateful for Rusty¹ stand, to come stand by him in a celebration of Independence from America Day in Byron Bay.
The Drug War and its police offensives in this land are yet another US war, albeit at the low intensity end of the scale amongst all the wars, which are being waged by the US on the poor of the world at this time. It is a domestic war against the local poor in which our police and parliaments are accomplices.
In the belief that one only holds the liberty one defends, we intend to celebrate our small victory in the ongoing resistance to the US, its Drug Wars and its global tyranny.
Never before has tyranny been more arrogant, global, greedy, war mongering or cruel. How, in the face of such awesome and evil power, to defend liberty when we know the agents of US foreign policy play dirty tricks, manipulate media, buy and sell governments and turn police services into death squads?
Act against the tyrannous in government while it is small, we say. Become visible and draw the line locally. Speak up and speak out for freedom here and now. Occupy public places and stand together truly. Speak the truth plainly and beautifully too, with poetry and song, music and dance.
May we build community and cultural movement as we walk this path of freedom. May we be aware that in walking this path together we are in a living tradition of liberation that goes back to Muhammad, Jesus, Buddha and beyond. May the ancestors bless us. May we know the call of the future generations too and become teachers and pathfinders in the defence of their rights and liberties.
The Independence from America Day rally will assemble in Apex Park, Byron Bay, from 10.30 am Thursday 4 July. After few speakers and songs there, the crowd, Peacebus and a host of drummers (go for it, Robin!) and colourful flags will move to the Byron courthouse.
Outside the courthouse freedom lovers will delight in the theatre and spectacle of a Burning Bush emanating prophetic words.
For peace! For justice! For the Earth!
Graeme Dunstan
Peacebus.com
12 June 2002
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