Denver 420 Rally, April 20, 2011: No Colors, No Violence
Civic Center Park
9 AM until 6 PM
The Denver 420 Rally is around the corner and this year is expected to have a greater impact on the movement than years prior as we build momentum for re-legalization 2012! The theme this year is No Colors, No Violence. The intent is to promote education, awareness, transparency, and peace while demonstrating unity within the community.
**Booth Space Available**
The Denver 420 Rally started over 30 years ago and was memorialized by the late Ken Gorman as an informal rally to protest marijuana prohibition and bring to attention the need to change ineffective drug policy. This year brings the 4th officially permitted rally, which has evolved through the years into a grassroots political coalition dedicated to human and civil rights advocacy in Denver and in the Nation’s capital. Denver 420 Rally Director Miguel Lopez is a nationally endorsed community organizer and leader who received a tribute for helping elect President Obama in Washington, DC days before Attorney General Eric Holder announced that investigating medical marijuana will be a low priority.
The Denver 420 Rally is truly the world’s largest with an attendance of over 50,000 people. The rally is historic, original, and completely FREE, open to the public, and tolerant. There have been no arrests since the rally has been permitted, before which there was an average of 77 arrests each year. Minors are discouraged from using marijuana, unless they have a medical permit to do so. No selling of marijuana and marijuana infused products.
The rally has successfully established a community foundation and cultural base by bringing together community members in peaceful protest of marijuana and hemp prohibition. The Denver 420 Rally actively reaches out to all members of the community, including poor and marginalized members by employing personal interaction through face to face communication and not relying solely on cyber space. The Denver 420 Rally is a champion for those who suffered disparity due to marijuana prohibition and actively seeks amnesty for individuals whose rights have been violated as well as promotes fair trade practices especially for members of the community who originally fought on the front lines for medical marijuana legitimacy.
By showing unity, we are sending a message of no more business as usual. The game has been changed. We have a voice and that voice will be heard. We as a community will gather together to protect our rights and individual freedoms and will do so by assembling in peace. Solidly we will move towards securing patient and caregiver rights as well as push for re-legalization in 2012. At this point, full legalization will alleviate the burdens being forced on patients and caregivers, many of whom made tremendous sacrifices fighting for Amendment 20 and legitimizing medical marijuana to exercise their right to procure, provide, and use medical marijuana. Full legalization will provide the option for people to provide for themselves and others while promoting a balanced and fair economy and allow all members of the community to participate equally.
A fundraiser for the Denver 420 Rally will be held at Casselman’s on March 24th. The fundraiser gives local artists a chance to showcase artwork, particularly to express the ups and downs of the movement as an art form. Local performers will be competing for a chance to perform for the Denver 420 Rally – lyrics must have a political platform to provide inspiration and encourage cultural healing. Information regarding the Global Marijuana Marchon May 7th and the Cinco de Mayo march to La Raza Park (aka Columbus Park) will be provided at the fundraiser and rally.
Denver 420 Rally Schedule of Events
9:00 – 11:45 AM Disc Jocky
11:45 – 11:55 AM T.B.A.!
Noon – 1:00 PM Cultural Band: Mute Man Microphone
1:00 – 1:30 PM Hemp Fashion Show
1:30 – 1:40 PM Cultural Music & Announcement of the winners of the March 24th fundraiser @Casslemans
1:40 – 2:40 PM Native Benediction
2:40 – 2:50 PM Cultural Music & Announcement of the winners of the March 24th fundraiser @ Casslemans
2:50 – 3:05 PM Invocation William Chengelis, Richard Rawlings
3:05 – 3:20 PM Cultural Music Performance By: 2012
3:20 – 3:35 PM Hemp Can Save The World Platform: Cap’n Cannabis, Dr. Bob Melmeade, and John Pylka
3:35 – 4:20 PM Keynote Addresses: Miguel Lopez, Denver 420 Rally , Rob Corry Jr., Esq., Tae Darnell, Esq., & Tiny Martinez, Global Marijuana March, Legalize 2012
4:20 – 4:35 PM Community Cultural Music Celebration: Performance By Hypnautic
4:35 – 4:55 PM Acknowledgements, Awards, & Dedication: TBA
4:55 – 5:05 PM Cultural Music
5:05 – 5:25 PM Closing Speech: Dennis Peron & Richard Eastman
5:25 – 6:00 PM Cultural Band Music: Mute Man Microphone
