|
Media Release 27 June 2001
US flag to burn at Independence Day Sniffer Dog Protest
A cardboard replica of the US flag and a Whitehouse/jailhouse will burn outside the Byron bay court when people gather to protest the police sniffer dog operations and to support sniffer dog resistance hero, Rusty Harris:
From 10 am Wednesday 4 July 2001
Byron Bay courthouse
"The police sniffer dog operations are a local manifestation of the global Drug War that the US Alliance has foisted on Australians", said protest organiser Graeme Dunstan. "We want to send a message to Canberra that we are over it. We want to follow the lead of the UK and other European countries which have de-escalated the Drug War and taken the crime out of cannabis."
Rusty Harris was one of 55 people detected to be carrying cannabis in the first police sniffer dog operation in Byron Bay on 9 March. Last Good Friday Rusty acted out his persecution by being crucified in the yard of the Byron Bay police station. In court he is challenging the legality of the search and accusing sniffer dog, Thor, of assault.
Coinciding with Drug Awareness Week last week, a second sniffer dog drug operation took place over three days and involved 18 officers, sniffer dogs, and street strip searches in the towns of Byron Bay, Bangalow, Brunswick Heads, Ocean Shores, Mullumbimby and Lennox Heads.
Twenty-one people were arrested, five charged and sixteen cautioned but only tiny amounts of speed, ecstasy and cannabis was seized. All up in the land of cannabis they captured 70 g, about $500 worth and a cost to the police of about $20,000 per ounce.
The protest will also be the launch of the Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party's campaign for the Aston federal by election in Melbourne for which Graeme Dunstan is HEMP's candidate. The Peacebus.com and convoy will depart for Melbourne after the courthouse protest.
"Peacebus.com will be waging guerilla theatre in Melbourne to win some of the protest vote and put cannabis law reform on the federal agenda", said Mr Dunstan.
Further information
Graeme Dunstan, HEMP candidate for Aston 0412 609 373
Rusty Harris 0427 953 344
Michael Balderstone, president HEMP Party 02 6689 1842 (w) 02 6689 7525 (h)
Media Release 19 February 2002
Sniffer dogs + helicopters = police terrorism
When sniffer dog resistance hero Rusty Harris makes his fourth appearance before Byron Bay court next Wednesday, his supporters will be protesting the increasingly abusive and invasive nature of the policing that citizens of NSW are now subjected to under the government of "Cyanide"* Bob Carr.
"Under NSW Police Minister, Michael Costa, we have seen the over riding of a court finding that the use of sniffer dogs constituted an illegal search, and an increase in the number and frequency of police helicopter operations on the north coast," said Mr Harris, a primary producer from Barkers Vale.
"The police claim they are only doing their job but our experience is that these operations create more harm than they reduce and that they have other motives and are selective."
"We say that the real intent is to intimidate, to criminalise and to create fodder for their Drug War jails and we say they select as their targets the poor and the unsuited."
"In particular I say the police are targeting those who are willing to stand up and say NO to the tax and resource piracy of the global corporate rich. And even a bigger NO to the US tyranny and its drug prohibition madness", Mr Harris accuses.
The colourful and crusading Peacebus will be at the rally.
"Sniffer dogs and helicopter surveillance is state terrorism", declares Peacebus organiser, Graeme Dunstan.
"The new world order as administered by NSW Police Minister Michael Costa turns out to be a media circus in which Costa is a performing bear, dancing to a US Drug War tune", he said.
"Costa is more interested in elections than community policing and more interested in media illusions than community safety."
"We will be rallying to bear witness to the lies and corruption of the Carr government", said Mr Dunstan.
The rally will take place:
9 am to 12 noon Wednesday 20 February 2002
outside the Byron Bay court house.
Further Information
Website www.nimbinaustralia.com/rusty
Rusty Harris 0427 953 344
Graeme Dunstan 0412 609 373
* The NSW Premier, Bob Carr has been dubbed Cyanide Bob by the environmental defenders of northern NSW because of his endorsement of the cyanide heap leach gold mine on the Timbarra plateau, headwaters of the Clarence, the biggest river by volume in NSW. The mine closed in 1999, leaked in 2000 and was declared illegal in 2001 by the NSW Land and Environment Court.
The Carr approved cyanide gold mine in Lake Cowal, the biggest inland lake in NSW and major wetland breeding ground for migratory birds, is now under challenge.
Media Release 26 June 02
Independence from America Day 4 July 2002
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, 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.
"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, last Friday 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 government's appeal to the NSW Supreme Court against a Sydney magistrate's 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 people's victory in resistance to the US, its Drug War and its global tyranny."
Further information
Website: www.peacebus.com/FourthJuly
Graeme Dunstan Peacebus 0412 609 373
Michael Balderstone Nimbin HEMP Embassy 02 6689 1842
Rusty Harris 0427 953 344
Media Release 17 October 2003
Rusty's 13th court appearance and Free Hemp Awareness Festival in Byron Bay
Sniffer dog resistance hero Rusty Harris will make his 13th appearance before Byron Bay Local Court next Thursday, 23 October. An all-day Free Hemp Awareness Festival will be held in Railway Park to coincide with the court appearance.
Mr Harris has been in court 12 times over the past two-and-a-half years, defending himself against three charges relating to a police sniffer dog search and his arrest on 9 March, 2001, outside the former Fast Eddies café in Johnston St, Byron Bay.
Since Mr Harris' last court appearance in Byron on 10 July, police have dropped two of the charges: of having a knife, which was 3cm long and on a key ring, and being in possession of money alleged to be stolen. Rusty was about to use the money to buy a water alkaline and ionising machine for healing purposes.
At next week's appearance, Mr Harris, represented by solicitor Ralph James, will continue to challenge the legality and manner of the sniffer dog search and the evidence of snigger dog handler Snr Constable Colleen Bolton. Mr Harris says police did not identify themselves before the sniffer dog search, and will argue the dog lifting his testicles was a 'trespass on his person'.
"Under the NSW Labor Government we have seen the overriding of a court finding in Sydney that the use of sniffer dogs constituted an illegal search," said Mr Harris, a primary producer from Barkers Vale.
He and his supporters will be protesting against sniffer dog searches which they say are a violation of basic civil liberties and human rights. There have been no sniffer dog searches by police in the Byron Bay area since Mr Harris began contesting the legality of the searches.
"The police claim they are only doing their job, but our experience is that these operations create more harm than they reduce, and that the police have other motives and are selective in who they search," Mr Harris said.
"We say that the real intention is to intimidate and criminalise people and to create fodder for their Drug War jails. We say the sniffer dog searches select the 'soft' targets of the poor and the marginalised."
At every court appearance to date a rally has been held in support of Rusty Harris, to protest against the use of sniffer dogs and support the re-legalisation of hemp. Past rallies have been well attended, colourful and peaceful protests with music, dancing, and a feeling of solidarity.
"With each court adjournment, the support for me and the cause has grown, and so too the circles and networks of friendships," Mr Harris said.
The Free Hemp Awareness Festival to coincide with Rusty's 13th court appearance will be held in Railway Park Byron Bay from 9.30 am till sunset. This promises to be the biggest rally yet, with bands to include Earth Reggae, One 4 One, Monkey and the Fish, and Bo Kaan, as well as Bundjalung dancers and more. The event will also be supported by the Chai Tent providing free chai and cakes, as well as various stalls and hemp exhibitions.
Media contact:
Hemp Embassy in Nimbin Ph: 66 891842,
Rusty Harris' website: www.nimbinaustralia.com/rusty.
|
