Showing posts with label persecution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label persecution. Show all posts
Monday, October 12, 2020
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Meet the Marijuana Lifers California’s Prop 64 Could Set Free
California’s Proposition 64—The Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA)—is a 62-page manifesto of government over-regulation. But ultimately, as the founder and director of the Marijuana Lifer Project, a non-profit organization that advocates for federal prisoners serving life sentences, I decided to vote yes because the initiative does a lot of good.
Under Prop 64, most marijuana felonies in the state of California will become misdemeanors, and that applies retroactively. This means state marijuana prisoners get an immediate chance at release. But even beyond state prisoners, this law will also help some federal prisoners.
One such inmate is Corvain Cooper, 37, serving a sentence of life without parole (LWOP) for a nonviolent marijuana conspiracy. Two California state priors for marijuana helped prosecutors win that harsh sentence in federal court. However, if Prop 64 passes, Corvain’s prior felonies would become misdemeanors, and he would no longer qualify for a life sentence.
Corvain Cooper prays to be reunited with his family. Prop 64 could help him get out of jail.
“I pray every night for the passage of this law,” Cooper said. “My daughters are depending on it, and I am tired of lying to them about when I am coming home. I want people to understand that their vote can give so many people a second chance at life. It gives me a second chance at life, and gives my daughters a second chance to spend the rest of their lives with their dad.”
Prop 64 will also help medical marijuana provider and federal prisoner Dustin Costa, 70, who has a prior cultivation felony in California on his record. As a marijuana activist, Costa expressed reservations about the initiative, but like me, ultimately came down on the pro side.
“I haven’t read Prop 64, but from what I’ve heard, it is pretty restrictive,” said Costa. “Nevertheless, its passage would legalize a drug that has been maligned for upwards of a century. What that means is that the public will finally have the opportunity for a fact-based learning experience. As for Prop 64 not going far enough, I think a better way to view it is as a pathway to understanding and thus a baby step toward full acceptance. I would vote for it on that basis alone, despite its shortcomings.”
Corvain Cooper and Dustin Costa have vested interests in the passage of Prop 64, but I wondered how other federal marijuana inmates, who would not be directly impacted, felt about activists encouraging people to vote against a legalization bill, regardless of how bad the bill might be.
Paul Free and Corvain Cooper in USP Atwater where they are serving life without parole for nonviolent marijuana offenses.
Paul Free, 66, also serving LWOP in USP Atwater along with Corvain Cooper, believes Prop 64’s passage will hasten prohibition’s end.
“If California—a state that’s the 6th largest economy in the world—legalizes, the feds are going to have to do something,” Free said.
John Knock doesn’t deserve to live his life in a cage for pot.
John Knock, 69, a first time offender sentenced to TWO life sentences for marijuana, echoed those sentiments: “Old hippies tend to think things should be perfect. In politics, that just doesn’t happen. The sooner it is passed the better it will be for all.”
Edwin Rubis, 48, who has already served 18 years of a 40-year sentence, had strong opinions.
“I believe that activists who are willing to wait longer for a better bill are not participating in their call to legalize marijuana,” Rubis said. “Any step is progress and to take a neutral or negative stance only adds to the severity of injustice. Failure to act in the affirmative is to cede that marijuana should remain illegal and thus, those of us incarcerated remain as is.”
Edwin Rubis has already served 18 years in jail for cannabis. Waiting for a perfect initiative is not a luxury he can afford. It was difficult for the prisoners I spoke with, some of whom have been waiting decades for a chance at freedom, to understand how and why the issue of legalizing marijuana has become as contentious to cannabis activists in California as the presidential election is to the general public.
Waiting for perfect bills is simply not a luxury any of these men can afford.
John Knock summed up the perspective well.
“The Union was designed for one state to try something and the rest to learn from that,” he said. “Colorado did it and now it’s time for California to step up, even if it is not perfect. What, if anything, is?”
Source
Under Prop 64, most marijuana felonies in the state of California will become misdemeanors, and that applies retroactively. This means state marijuana prisoners get an immediate chance at release. But even beyond state prisoners, this law will also help some federal prisoners.
One such inmate is Corvain Cooper, 37, serving a sentence of life without parole (LWOP) for a nonviolent marijuana conspiracy. Two California state priors for marijuana helped prosecutors win that harsh sentence in federal court. However, if Prop 64 passes, Corvain’s prior felonies would become misdemeanors, and he would no longer qualify for a life sentence.
Corvain Cooper prays to be reunited with his family. Prop 64 could help him get out of jail.
“I pray every night for the passage of this law,” Cooper said. “My daughters are depending on it, and I am tired of lying to them about when I am coming home. I want people to understand that their vote can give so many people a second chance at life. It gives me a second chance at life, and gives my daughters a second chance to spend the rest of their lives with their dad.”
Prop 64 will also help medical marijuana provider and federal prisoner Dustin Costa, 70, who has a prior cultivation felony in California on his record. As a marijuana activist, Costa expressed reservations about the initiative, but like me, ultimately came down on the pro side.
“I haven’t read Prop 64, but from what I’ve heard, it is pretty restrictive,” said Costa. “Nevertheless, its passage would legalize a drug that has been maligned for upwards of a century. What that means is that the public will finally have the opportunity for a fact-based learning experience. As for Prop 64 not going far enough, I think a better way to view it is as a pathway to understanding and thus a baby step toward full acceptance. I would vote for it on that basis alone, despite its shortcomings.”
Corvain Cooper and Dustin Costa have vested interests in the passage of Prop 64, but I wondered how other federal marijuana inmates, who would not be directly impacted, felt about activists encouraging people to vote against a legalization bill, regardless of how bad the bill might be.
Paul Free and Corvain Cooper in USP Atwater where they are serving life without parole for nonviolent marijuana offenses.
Paul Free, 66, also serving LWOP in USP Atwater along with Corvain Cooper, believes Prop 64’s passage will hasten prohibition’s end.
“If California—a state that’s the 6th largest economy in the world—legalizes, the feds are going to have to do something,” Free said.
John Knock doesn’t deserve to live his life in a cage for pot.
John Knock, 69, a first time offender sentenced to TWO life sentences for marijuana, echoed those sentiments: “Old hippies tend to think things should be perfect. In politics, that just doesn’t happen. The sooner it is passed the better it will be for all.”
Edwin Rubis, 48, who has already served 18 years of a 40-year sentence, had strong opinions.
“I believe that activists who are willing to wait longer for a better bill are not participating in their call to legalize marijuana,” Rubis said. “Any step is progress and to take a neutral or negative stance only adds to the severity of injustice. Failure to act in the affirmative is to cede that marijuana should remain illegal and thus, those of us incarcerated remain as is.”
Edwin Rubis has already served 18 years in jail for cannabis. Waiting for a perfect initiative is not a luxury he can afford. It was difficult for the prisoners I spoke with, some of whom have been waiting decades for a chance at freedom, to understand how and why the issue of legalizing marijuana has become as contentious to cannabis activists in California as the presidential election is to the general public.
Waiting for perfect bills is simply not a luxury any of these men can afford.
John Knock summed up the perspective well.
“The Union was designed for one state to try something and the rest to learn from that,” he said. “Colorado did it and now it’s time for California to step up, even if it is not perfect. What, if anything, is?”
Source
Monday, November 18, 2013
Pelosi persecutes Stop Pelosi PAC
Nancy Pelosi is furious, and she's fighting back.
Only days after we launched Stop Pelosi PAC, Nancy Pelosi's favorite federal bureaucracy - the Federal Election Commission - has demanded we shut down or else.
What is our "crime?"
We had the audacity to mention the "precious name" of "Pelosi" in - Stop Pelosi PAC.
Now we're waiting on legal papers from the Federal Election Commission demanding we shut down Stop Pelosi PAC or else face hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
So your immediate advice and support is needed in the next 48 hours.
Never before have I backed off when threatened by Nancy Pelosi and her band of leftist bureaucrats.
You see, I helped start Stop Pelosi PAC for one simple - but very important reason - to ensure Nancy Pelosi never becomes Speaker of the House again.
But now I'm faced with a critical decision, and I need your help.
Should I cave in to the FEC's gag rules, allow Nancy Pelosi to become the next Speaker of the House and pay whatever fines they impose?
Or should I defy their unconstitutional, anti-free speech abuse of power and continue working to defeat Nancy Pelosi before she becomes Speaker of the House?
I need to hear from you within the next 48 hours.
If you agree I should fight, then I must ask you to chip in with a contribution of $5 or more today.
Fighting the FEC (not to mention battling Nancy Pelosi) could cost us hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
If you support our fight, I'm asking you to chip in with a contribution of at least $5 or more today.
I have to make a final decision within days - so please let me hear from you within the next 48 hours.
If you want me to proceed with our efforts to defeat Nancy Pelosi and defy the FEC bureaucrats, I must have YOUR IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL HELP.
Since its inception, the FEC has had "constitutional amnesia"-- forgetting that all Americans, especially those involved in the political process--have First Amendment rights!
Together, we can restore our right to free speech (imagine that!)--and insure that the FEC will be forced to respect the First Amendment!
You see, all they have to do is drag us through the nearly endless mud of court proceedings: charge, countercharge, discovery, depositions, preliminary motions, written briefs, oral arguments, and appeal after appeal.
A gaggle of government lawyers are at the FEC's beck and call, backed by a division of support staff, researchers and investigators with many tens of millions of dollars to spend.
As I said, never before have I backed off when threatened.
But I must have you on my side to continue to fight.
If you want me to proceed with our efforts to fight Nancy Pelosi and her FEC minions, I must have YOUR FINANCIAL HELP and support within the next 48 hours.
Without your financial help, fighting an FEC lawsuit may not only be foolish -- it may spell the end of Stop Pelosi PAC.
But if you want me to fight on as I hope and pray you do, please chip in with a contribution of $5 or more - immediately.
Nancy Pelosi's resources are unlimited, and her allies in the federal government are ruthless -- so Stop Pelosi PAC needs friends like you as never before.
The future of America -- and our ability to defeat Nancy Pelosi -- is in your hands.
Please give me your advice and support . . . today.
Faithfully,
Congressman JD Hayworth (Retired)
Co-Founder, Stop Pelosi PAC
To Donate
Only days after we launched Stop Pelosi PAC, Nancy Pelosi's favorite federal bureaucracy - the Federal Election Commission - has demanded we shut down or else.
What is our "crime?"
We had the audacity to mention the "precious name" of "Pelosi" in - Stop Pelosi PAC.
Now we're waiting on legal papers from the Federal Election Commission demanding we shut down Stop Pelosi PAC or else face hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
So your immediate advice and support is needed in the next 48 hours.
Never before have I backed off when threatened by Nancy Pelosi and her band of leftist bureaucrats.
You see, I helped start Stop Pelosi PAC for one simple - but very important reason - to ensure Nancy Pelosi never becomes Speaker of the House again.
But now I'm faced with a critical decision, and I need your help.
Should I cave in to the FEC's gag rules, allow Nancy Pelosi to become the next Speaker of the House and pay whatever fines they impose?
Or should I defy their unconstitutional, anti-free speech abuse of power and continue working to defeat Nancy Pelosi before she becomes Speaker of the House?
I need to hear from you within the next 48 hours.
If you agree I should fight, then I must ask you to chip in with a contribution of $5 or more today.
Fighting the FEC (not to mention battling Nancy Pelosi) could cost us hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
If you support our fight, I'm asking you to chip in with a contribution of at least $5 or more today.
I have to make a final decision within days - so please let me hear from you within the next 48 hours.
If you want me to proceed with our efforts to defeat Nancy Pelosi and defy the FEC bureaucrats, I must have YOUR IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL HELP.
Since its inception, the FEC has had "constitutional amnesia"-- forgetting that all Americans, especially those involved in the political process--have First Amendment rights!
Together, we can restore our right to free speech (imagine that!)--and insure that the FEC will be forced to respect the First Amendment!
You see, all they have to do is drag us through the nearly endless mud of court proceedings: charge, countercharge, discovery, depositions, preliminary motions, written briefs, oral arguments, and appeal after appeal.
A gaggle of government lawyers are at the FEC's beck and call, backed by a division of support staff, researchers and investigators with many tens of millions of dollars to spend.
As I said, never before have I backed off when threatened.
But I must have you on my side to continue to fight.
If you want me to proceed with our efforts to fight Nancy Pelosi and her FEC minions, I must have YOUR FINANCIAL HELP and support within the next 48 hours.
Without your financial help, fighting an FEC lawsuit may not only be foolish -- it may spell the end of Stop Pelosi PAC.
But if you want me to fight on as I hope and pray you do, please chip in with a contribution of $5 or more - immediately.
Nancy Pelosi's resources are unlimited, and her allies in the federal government are ruthless -- so Stop Pelosi PAC needs friends like you as never before.
The future of America -- and our ability to defeat Nancy Pelosi -- is in your hands.
Please give me your advice and support . . . today.
Faithfully,
Congressman JD Hayworth (Retired)
Co-Founder, Stop Pelosi PAC
To Donate
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Stop the persecution of our military personnel
From Public Advocate:
As the fallout of the government shutdown fight continues, it's important not to forget that the Homosexual Agenda is still running amuck in the U.S. military.
When Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed, Public Advocate warned this would lead directly to the persecution of Christians serving in the armed forces.
You see, it is impossible for the Pentagon and the Obama Administration to promote the radical Homosexual Agenda in the ranks without attacking Christians.
And sure enough, Public Advocate has alerted our supporters to more than a dozen outrageous incidents in the past year alone.
But Lackland Air Force Base is on a whole new level of wrong.
Trouble at Lackland first came to the public’s attention in August when it was reported that Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Monk was facing a court martial.
He had been ordered by his commanding officer to verbally state that he supported homosexual “marriage.”
When he refused, he was relieved of duty.
He filed a complaint for this wrongful act of discrimination, but instead of defending his First Amendment rights, the Air Force has accused him of lying.
Now he is facing a court-martial -- just for standing up to the Homosexual Agenda.
But his story is just part of a larger pattern of radical homosexual intimidation at Lackland AFB.
Local Baptist pastor Steve Branson reports that he has heard from at least 80 airmen about the religious persecution they are facing at Lackland.
"There is an atmosphere of intimidation at Lackland Air Force Base," Branson said. "Gay commanders and officers are pushing their agenda on the airmen. There is a culture of fear in the military and it’s gone to a new level with the issue of homosexuality."
The U.S. military takes its orders from Obama, and right now the leadership is definitely following orders to purge Christians, Christianity, and all forms of morality from service.
The spike in incidents at Lackland is highly suspicious.
The base is located in San Antonio, Texas and this city has just come under its own controversy in the last few months for passing an ordinance giving special protected-class status to homosexuals.
With this ordinance, Christian employees of the city and Christian businesses will be forced to endorse the Homosexual Agenda -- or else.
The Homosexual Lobby appears to be calling a lot of shots in the San Antonio area.
And coincidence or not, Christians in the area -- civilians and U.S. Airmen -- are suffering from the radical Homosexual Agenda.
Public Advocate is gathering support right now for our Religious Liberty Directive and working tirelessly to expose the homosexual abuses in uniform.
If you haven't yet, you can sign your Religious Liberty Directive by clicking here.
We can't let them get away with these anti-Family attacks on traditional marriage.
I hope I can continue to count on your support.
For the Family,
HON. EUGENE DELGAUDIO
President, Public Advocate of the U.S.
P.S. Will you chip in $5 or $10 to help Public Advocate fight the Homosexual Lobby on behalf of our brave pro-Family men and women in uniform?
As the fallout of the government shutdown fight continues, it's important not to forget that the Homosexual Agenda is still running amuck in the U.S. military.
When Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed, Public Advocate warned this would lead directly to the persecution of Christians serving in the armed forces.
You see, it is impossible for the Pentagon and the Obama Administration to promote the radical Homosexual Agenda in the ranks without attacking Christians.
And sure enough, Public Advocate has alerted our supporters to more than a dozen outrageous incidents in the past year alone.
But Lackland Air Force Base is on a whole new level of wrong.
Trouble at Lackland first came to the public’s attention in August when it was reported that Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Monk was facing a court martial.
He had been ordered by his commanding officer to verbally state that he supported homosexual “marriage.”
When he refused, he was relieved of duty.
He filed a complaint for this wrongful act of discrimination, but instead of defending his First Amendment rights, the Air Force has accused him of lying.
Now he is facing a court-martial -- just for standing up to the Homosexual Agenda.
But his story is just part of a larger pattern of radical homosexual intimidation at Lackland AFB.
Local Baptist pastor Steve Branson reports that he has heard from at least 80 airmen about the religious persecution they are facing at Lackland.
"There is an atmosphere of intimidation at Lackland Air Force Base," Branson said. "Gay commanders and officers are pushing their agenda on the airmen. There is a culture of fear in the military and it’s gone to a new level with the issue of homosexuality."
The U.S. military takes its orders from Obama, and right now the leadership is definitely following orders to purge Christians, Christianity, and all forms of morality from service.
The spike in incidents at Lackland is highly suspicious.
The base is located in San Antonio, Texas and this city has just come under its own controversy in the last few months for passing an ordinance giving special protected-class status to homosexuals.
With this ordinance, Christian employees of the city and Christian businesses will be forced to endorse the Homosexual Agenda -- or else.
The Homosexual Lobby appears to be calling a lot of shots in the San Antonio area.
And coincidence or not, Christians in the area -- civilians and U.S. Airmen -- are suffering from the radical Homosexual Agenda.
Public Advocate is gathering support right now for our Religious Liberty Directive and working tirelessly to expose the homosexual abuses in uniform.
If you haven't yet, you can sign your Religious Liberty Directive by clicking here.
We can't let them get away with these anti-Family attacks on traditional marriage.
I hope I can continue to count on your support.
For the Family,
HON. EUGENE DELGAUDIO
President, Public Advocate of the U.S.
P.S. Will you chip in $5 or $10 to help Public Advocate fight the Homosexual Lobby on behalf of our brave pro-Family men and women in uniform?
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Gay supremacy in New Zealand
From Public Advocate of the U.S.:
Just two weeks after New Zealand legalized homosexual "marriage," the government's Human Rights Tribunal is prosecuting an Anglican Bishop for "discriminating" against a homosexual who desires to become a priest.
These government prosecutions against churches, businesses and schools are a perfect example of what is to follow when a country legalizes same-sex "marriage."
And if the United States were to legalize same-sex "marriage," these prosecutions will become more frequent. The homosexual "victim" is said to be unmarried and in a sexual relationship with his male partner. According to the Anglican Church in New Zealand, if you’re in an out-of-wedlock relationship with anyone – man or woman – you cannot be ordained in their church which makes the homosexual "victim" ineligible.
But the Homosexual Lobby doesn’t care about a church's religious freedom or any other organization deciding what it would like to do with its institution.
The Homosexual Lobby only cares about their agenda: to make their lifestyle a common and even preferred characteristic of society. And what happens if you don’t embrace their way of life? You will be taken to court and prosecuted. This isn’t about "equality." This is about radical homosexual activists' desire to receive special treatment as a protected class in society.
We already see an influx of lawsuits here in America by radical homosexual activists against innocent churches, business owners and schools. And if homosexual "marriage" were legalized federally here in the United States, our liberties would be further threatened by the Homosexual Lobby and their goal to force their lifestyle into everyday life.
That is why we must always fight to safeguard our long-honored tradition of marriage and pro-Family values.
I pray you will keep up the fight.
For the Family,
HON. EUGENE DELGAUDIO
President, Public Advocate of the U.S.
Eugene is right. This isn't about equality it is about supremacy. The same supremacy that comes from the feminist lobby. In fact feminists and gays go hand-in-hand on a lot of political issues. If gays wanted equality that is one thing but supremacy is out of the question.
Just two weeks after New Zealand legalized homosexual "marriage," the government's Human Rights Tribunal is prosecuting an Anglican Bishop for "discriminating" against a homosexual who desires to become a priest.
These government prosecutions against churches, businesses and schools are a perfect example of what is to follow when a country legalizes same-sex "marriage."
And if the United States were to legalize same-sex "marriage," these prosecutions will become more frequent. The homosexual "victim" is said to be unmarried and in a sexual relationship with his male partner. According to the Anglican Church in New Zealand, if you’re in an out-of-wedlock relationship with anyone – man or woman – you cannot be ordained in their church which makes the homosexual "victim" ineligible.
But the Homosexual Lobby doesn’t care about a church's religious freedom or any other organization deciding what it would like to do with its institution.
The Homosexual Lobby only cares about their agenda: to make their lifestyle a common and even preferred characteristic of society. And what happens if you don’t embrace their way of life? You will be taken to court and prosecuted. This isn’t about "equality." This is about radical homosexual activists' desire to receive special treatment as a protected class in society.
We already see an influx of lawsuits here in America by radical homosexual activists against innocent churches, business owners and schools. And if homosexual "marriage" were legalized federally here in the United States, our liberties would be further threatened by the Homosexual Lobby and their goal to force their lifestyle into everyday life.
That is why we must always fight to safeguard our long-honored tradition of marriage and pro-Family values.
I pray you will keep up the fight.
For the Family,
HON. EUGENE DELGAUDIO
President, Public Advocate of the U.S.
Eugene is right. This isn't about equality it is about supremacy. The same supremacy that comes from the feminist lobby. In fact feminists and gays go hand-in-hand on a lot of political issues. If gays wanted equality that is one thing but supremacy is out of the question.
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