THE LEAP LEDGER
News about current and former members of law enforcement who support drug regulation instead of drug prohibition
Prohibition is better than no drink at all. -- Will Rogers
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition | 781-393-6985 | 27 Austin Rd, Medford MA 02155 December, 2004 Volume 1, Issue 1
Notes from Jack:
Jack Cole, Executive Director
I want to commend all the LEAP members and supporters who have worked so hard creating this organization. The last two years have flown by in a whirlwind of activity. LEAP has grown in both size and stature. Today we are one of the most respected drug-policy- reform organizations on the scene.
With more than 75 speakers in six countries, we have given presentations at over 900 venues across the United States and around the world. We are changing minds, influencing policy-makers and will soon be changing drug policies.
LEAP presents its case for legalization to professional, educational, and religious organizations, as well as to public forums. We also target civic groups; Chambers of Commerce, Rotaries, Lions and Kiwanis Clubs, etc. Members of these organizations are pretty conservative folks who mostly agree with the drug-warriors that we must continue the war on drugs at any cost. They are very solid members of their communities; people who belong to civic organizations because they want the best for their locales. Every one of them will be voting in every election. Many are policy-makers and if they are not, they are the people who can pull the coat tails of policy-makers and say, "We have someone you must hear talk about drug policy."
We have made more than nine hundred presentations in which LEAP calls for the government to "end prohibition and legalize all drugs-so we can control and regulate these substances to keep them out of the hands of our children." We believe the majority of folks in our audiences agree with us.
Even more amazing is the impact we are having at national and international law-enforcement conventions. We keep track of all the folks we speak with at our exhibit booth. After we talk with them, 6% want to continue the war on drugs, 14% are undecided, and 80% agree with LEAP that we must end drug prohibition. The most interesting thing about our findings is that only a small number of that 80% realized others in law enforcement felt the same. These officers are afraid to speak with their peers about their views because they don't realize they hold the majority opinion. LEAP is allowing these officers to feel they have a right to speak out about the horrors created by a policy of war on drugs.
All this progress has been made despite the fact that during the first years LEAP's office was simply a room in my house and we had no administrative staff. I have just hired Lincoln Turner Taggart, a dynamic Administrative Director who is also passionate about ending drug prohibition. Lincoln will be assuming most of my duties, thus releasing me for the strategic planning and fund raising activities in which, as Executive Director, I should be more involved.
Thanks again for your support, and I hope you enjoy the first issue of The LEAP Ledger.
Greetings and welcome to the first edition of the LEAP newsletter. In the 2-½ years since five brave people got together and founded this organization, LEAP has grown to more than 2000 members in 45 countries. Good things are happening so fast we can barely keep up! That's why we created this newsletter-to keep all our treasured friends and supporters in the know about LEAP's goals, events and accomplishments. We hope you like this publication and find it useful. We plan to introduce more features in future editions. If you have suggestions for improvement and/or content, just send
http://www.leap.cc/contact.htm them to us and we'll take it from there.
Many thanks to each of you for your continued interest in and support of this organization. Without you, progress would be nearly impossible. Please click here
http://www.leap.cc/donate.htm if you'd like to make a donation to LEAP. The Lone Ranger's National Tour A Report From One of LEAP's Most Active Members The tall, lanky cowboy strides to the podium. Grasping the microphone, his voice booms out to the audience of Rotarians, "War on Drugs. How is that working for you in Colorado? Is it reducing crime? Is it reducing rates of death and disease? Is it even reducing drug use?" The audience murmurs and mumbles a NO to all of the questions.
Howard and Misty in Oregon, 2003 Twenty-five minutes later the Rotarians filed out, many stopping to shake my hand and say that I gave them a lot to think about. Thus ends another presentation, one of over 125 that I have done in 2004. My mind drifts back to where I was a year ago: riding Misty 23 miles a day, 6 days a week. Then dressed in jeans, boots & spurs, dirty t-shirt, cowboy hat and always needing a bath, now I was wearing a sport coat, shiny boots and buckle, and my Sunday cowboy hat. What a change!
2004 has been a year of driving from one civic group to another, speaking to and changing the minds of 30-60 community leaders at a time. While Misty is resting comfortably on a ranch in Kentucky, my Chevy truck has transported me some 30,000 miles. From Texas to Colorado to Virginia to Oregon and north to Alaska I have traversed the United States, seeking to educate the 'unconverted.' LEAP seeks out venues all over the world where the majority of the listeners are what we call the 'unconverted.' LEAP speakers simply give the listeners the facts of the failure of the war on drugs and let them decide what to do.
The response to the LEAP message has been consistent across nearly all parts of America; namely, that over half the audience walks out ready to end the war on drugs! How can that occur? LEAP speakers receive immediate credibility from the crowd because we have been in the trenches of the war on drugs. This transformation of views held by so many creates energy, propelling us forward to another and yet another civic organization.
It isn't just Rotarians who have been converted. I was sleeping in a 'no-tell motel' in Mississippi this spring, when the police pounded on my door around midnight. I tumbled out of bed and met three young, unhappy-looking cops at my door. They informed me that I had left the key in the door of my truck (senior moment). I thanked them but then, in an accusing tone, they asked about the sign on my truck, "COPS SAY LEGALIZE POT, ASK ME WHY." I replied that most of us want to focus on drunk drivers and child molesters. 15 minutes later they asked for LEAP brochures and instructions on how to join!!
My efforts will slow down drastically in December. I will transport Misty back to a ranch in Oklahoma to prepare for a 3,600-mile ride from Los Angeles to New York City. In addition to riding Misty a few miles everyday, I will train "Rocky," a backup horse in case Misty is injured. Unable to completely shut up, I will present to a Rotary or Kiwanis once a week or so.
You might ask why I would make another mind, body and spirit-breaking trip. I fully admit to still being tired from the first trip I completed in the fall of 2003. The impetus to ride again comes from meeting so many inspirational reformers this year. From Stormy Ray in Oregon to Bernie Ellis in Tennessee and many others in between, I stand in awe of the sacrifices that they have been making for years. The ride will begin on a beach just south of Los Angeles about March 12, 2005. We will average about 23 miles per day and rest one day in seven. The demands of such an endeavor are 24/7, the greatest being the never-ending search for food for Misty and to a lesser degree her water. From the LA city limits to the border of Nebraska some 1,800 miles, there will be almost no grass. In each village, I will seek out a cemetery, post office, funeral home anyplace where they might water their yards, thus providing some grass for poor Misty; the most gut-wrenching memories of the first trip were the nights of no food for her. After she worked hard to carry my little butt 20 to 40 miles, she would look at me with her one, big, brown eye asking where is dinner. When I had none to give, it broke my heart.
Luckily, those nights were few and far between. Even with the bold t-shirt, people from coast to coast volunteered to help out with grain and water. One particular nasty 36-mile stretch on I-84 from Mountain Home to Boise, ID was almost typical. We rode out at daybreak and temperature quickly rose to 104. After 26 miles of blazing sun in the desert, we stopped at a truck plaza for lunch. Misty had plenty to drink but here, there was not even a postage stamp of grass. As I was about to enter the café, I spotted at the pumps a stock trailer full of sheep. I asked the shepherd if I could buy some hay. He said no, but I could have all I wanted. Misty had a fine lunch of three flakes of alfalfa. This story repeated itself all across America.
I am often asked how long this ruinous policy of drug war will continue. I am optimistic that with so many pulling the wagon back to sanity, drug prohibition will be in the history books by 2014. As for me, I will donate my time and my horse, as much as we can handle, until the war on drugs is over or until I draw my last breath. By Howard Wooldridge, speaker for LEAP
The LEAP Ledger, December, 2004 Page 2
On the Horizon
LEAP's first ad campaign begins this month as we focus on talk radio hosts around the country. A team of volunteers has produced magazine ads, and they are producing a CD with 5- minute outtakes from various LEAP speakers. The CD's will then be sent to talk radio show hosts.
Also this month: LEAP is scheduled to present to the Virginia Crime Commission Howard Wooldridge is touring central Colorado LEAP speaks to the Syracuse Common Council Finance Committee, advocating alternatives to the drug war
Jan 12-17: Howard Wooldridge will tour Pittsburgh, speaking at various venues over the Martin Luther King Holiday. The effects of America's drug prohibition on the black community will be the primary topic.
Jan 24-April 30: Board member Peter Christ tours Southeastern Pennsylvania, focusing on Lancaster, Philadelphia and Scranton-Wilkes Barre. See website for specific events.
http://www.leap.cc/events/events.php Jan 31-Feb 12: Board member Judge Eleanor Schockett tours central and southwestern Ohio, with stops in Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton. See website for specific events.
http://www.leap.cc/events/events.php Feb 15-17: Judge Jim Gray's college tour with appearances at Smith College in Northampton, MA, Brown University in Rhode Island, and Wesleyan University in Connecticut.
Additional speaking engagements with civic groups and newspaper editorial boards are scheduled. See website for specific events.
http://www.leap.cc/events/events.php March 12-17: Judge Gray will be in the Big Apple for an important debate hosted by the Unitarian Universalists of New York. Later in the week he will speak at Columbia University and The John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Numerous other events are scheduled.
See website for specific events.
http://www.leap.cc/events/events.php HELP WANTED
LEAP is always looking for help, but at this time we need volunteers in two specific areas: Speaker Bureau Coordinators are essential to help book our speakers into civic group meetings, colleges, church congregations and other public venues. More than 70 members want to be speakers. This is fantastic for LEAP, but now we have a critical need for many more agents to help book them into venues.
We also need several Media Agents to correspond with newspaper editors, radio talk show producers and even television assignment editors to get the LEAP speakers interviewed.
Both of these jobs can be worked at for just an hour per week, and it is extremely gratifying to know you've been instrumental in helping LEAP get its vital message out to the public! Contact Mike Smithson at 315-243-5844 or
[email protected] to learn more or to get started.
Contact the editor mailto:
[email protected] 2004 Highlights
The "Down Under" Tour
In April 2004 LEAP conducted a tour of New Zealand with Jack Cole, Eleanor Schockett and Eddie Ellison. From an organizational point of view, this was the speakers bureau toughest assignment to date. Working with activists in New Zealand, we scheduled dozens of civic clubs, radio interviews and visits with public officials, including the Kiwi drug czar and the health minister. Presentations were made not just in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, but in outlying communities, too. The speakers were escorted around the country by activists who also provided places for the speakers to stay.
After the success of the New Zealand tour, the trio made it over to Melbourne, Australia for the International Harm Reduction Conference. LEAP acquired over 35 new members while speaking at the conference...harm reductionists were shocked and excited that LEAP existed and wanted to hear more about the effect of LEAP with public officials and the media. We hope to do it again at the next meeting of the IHRC in Belfast during March. By Mike Smithson, LEAP Speakers Bureau Coordinator
Training Seminar A Success
With so many people stepping up to volunteer help, LEAP hosted its first training seminar in Syracuse, April 23rd thru 25th. A dozen people from across the country came to town to learn how to set up engagements for LEAP speakers, how to deal with the media, where potential venues can be found for speakers, how to research for engagements, and they even received a "history of the movement" from one of the leaders in drug policy reform. Two editors from local papers added to the expert speakers and attendees also received a typical presentation from one of the founders of LEAP, Mr. Peter Christ.
The training session was a fruitful venture. The volunteers learned much, but I, too, learned a lot from our guest speakers. The entire group had a lot of interesting discussions with a continuous sharing of ideas. I hope we'll be able to do more of these training sessions. By Mike Smithson, LEAP Speakers Bureau Coordinator LEAP in Florida 2004
I'm Ethel Rowland, coordinator for LEAP activities in Florida. We have four speakers and dozens of members opposing the established Florida drug war effort fronted by Florida drug czar, James R. McDonough. This year LEAP had 46 presentations in Florida to 8 organizations: the Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs, the American Civil Liberties Union, Unitarian Universalist Church, the GFWC Women's Club, Democratic Women's Club, and NORML. In addition, we attended three police conferences, and participated in various radio and television interviews. Reception at the various organizations has been very good and we are starting to receive calls from organizations that have heard about us to book speakers.
Jack Cole, LEAP Executive Director, came to Florida for the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice Conference in Jacksonville and, in addition to exhibiting there, gave a two-hour presentation, "Restoring Racial Equity by Ending Drug Prohibition". Joining us there were LEAP Board member Judge Eleanor Schockett and one of our newest speakers, Lee Schwartz. The most memorable part of the conference was the positioning of our booth right next to the Drug Enforcement Administration booth. Often our booth would be a flurry of activity while the DEA folks stood idle. Quite heartening plus we had over 40 attendees join LEAP.
I enjoy sharing tabling events with LEAP speakers because it provides an opportunity for us to work together, share viewpoints, and is a great way to learn more about LEAP and to speak about LEAP. It is a lot of fun for the right personality and is a great way to participate and to help the organization.
The Florida team has been working on building relationships with students in Florida colleges and universities. I attended the annual conference for the Florida College Activists Coalition. Students from across the state gathered in Tallahassee to discuss political issues including drug policy reform. We signed up over 40 members, I figured we should be able to do as well with student activists as we did at the Criminal Justice Conference, and we established initial contacts from several university and college campuses in and out of Florida.
LEAP volunteers are crucial to the organization because of its size and needs. We did well in 2004 and 2005 will be better. You can help by hosting a speaker in your home who is touring with nearby civic groups, or booking our speakers across the country; and, if you have more money available than time, that is helpful, too. Thanks to all of us, change is occurring, and it will continue. Consider the daunting task in front of the women suffragettes in the 1850s.
We will win. By Ethel Rowland, Friend of LEAP Conferences and Conventions
The following are just a few of the 20 conferences and conventions LEAP attended in 2004:
The National Sheriffs' Association
The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
The National Latino Peace Officers Association
The International Association of Women in Policing The National Council for the Social Studies
In addition to our participation in the above-mentioned events, our speakers made hundreds of presentations across the nation: Howard Wooldridge toured Alaska for a week and Peter Christ toured Vermont, while Jack Cole took the LEAP message to the Tampa Bay area. We're very happy with our accomplishments in 2004, but everyone needs to know that they can help: Did you see some tidbit about the war on drugs in the newspaper that really bugged you? Want to challenge the reporter and the paper? Send the info to us and we'll have someone from LEAP follow up. Or maybe you heard a radio talk show host talking about the drug war . . . why not have a member of LEAP really discuss the issues? Let us know. Just get us the info. Every little bit helps to turn the tide. Play LEAP Trivia and win a T-shirt When he retired from his position as chief of police for a city in the western part of the United States, a LEAP speaker helped select his replacement-who later served as chief of police in another western city and is now the Chief of the Houston Police Department. Who is this LEAP speaker?
Send your answer to the editor mailto:
[email protected] . The first correct answer wins a LEAP T-shirt.
I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life, I absenteed myself from Christian assemblies.
--Benjamin Franklin, American Founding Father and inventor
