Police Trespass Cannabis Protestors

Police in Dargaville unlawfully trespassed a cannabis law reform group when it tried holding a political meeting in a building which they already had been granted permission to use.

“The actions of the Dargaville police constitute a direct attack on freedom of political expression,” said Dakta Green, founder of the Daktory cannabis club, today.

Dakta Green and entourage of fellow cannabis law reformers (or ‘daktavists’) are currently in the middle of the nationwide Cannabis Armistice Tour 2010.

On August 21, Dakta Green and fellow law reformers were invited by a local man, Mr Carlos Mendoza, to drive the CannaBus to a gathering of locals at a building under demolition on the main street of Dargaville.

“Police arrived shortly after we did and presented a trespass order to Mr Mendoza,” Dakta Green said.

“We’ve since found out that they had contacted the owner of the site after finding out that we were coming to town and scared him into allowing them to issue the trespass order against me specifically.”

Mr Mendoza had been given permission to use the site for a meeting about cannabis law reform by the building’s owner several weeks earlier.

"Mr Mendoza was arrested when he told the Police he would relocate next door as that property was not included in the trespass notice" said Mr Green.

“It was a public gathering – a local newspaper ran a Public notice promoting the event as a political meeting with entertainment and the opportunity to sign a petition against the Misuse of Drugs Act.”

“The actions taken by Dargaville police were a clear violation of the right to gather, express political views, and sign an important political document: The Armistice Agreement.

“Compare this to the common sense approach taken by police only a day before in Whangarei and then police in Hamilton a week later.”

Police in both those centers told local reporters they wouldn’t be approaching the group unless a complaint was laid.

“Dargaville Police, on the other hand, acted against a legitimate political protest, without any complaint other than one they had to engineer themselves.”

Dakta Green, who toured the country in the CannaBus before in 2008, said that the majority of police officers he has talked to are quietly supportive of the campaign to reform cannabis laws.

“All around the country we are expecting the same type of ‘leave them alone’ response as that shown by Whangarei and Hamilton police,” he concluded.

The Armistice Tour 2010 will end with a rally at Parliament to be held at 11 a.m. on 11 November.

ENDS

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