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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Alan Gordon 401-304-6020 [email protected]
New England Cannabist Anti-Discrimination Taskforce (NECAT)
Anne Armstrong 402-304-6543 [email protected]
The Healing Church
Religious Cannabists Will Pray Saturday Night
Despite Lack of Court Protective Order
Despite not winning a temporary restraining order against federal police, Biblical cannabis activists plan
to pray and march, but sticking to safe spots indicated by US Attorneys as “no-attack zones”.
“The US Attorneys put in writing that we may use religious cannabis anywhere except the birthplace of
religious freedom,” says Alan Gordon, who thinks the federal perspective is “just silly”. Gordon says the
US Attorneys were “so desperate, they tried to argue that arrests aren’t oppressive because we are free
to pray elsewhere.” Gordon says this federal perspective has caused him to scratch his head so many
times, he’s figuratively worn a bald spot.
Gordon also accused the US Attorneys of “playing dirty” by introducing late facts that should have been
put to the activists weeks ago for rebuttal or negotiation, and for misrepresenting that the activists
hadn’t explained that Roger Williams’ Well was sacred to them. “We told the Park Service by phone and
in writing, which records show, as if they didn’t know the significance of their own Park’s most sacred
site, the very epicenter of religious freedom,” says Gordon. The activists’ Church, The Healing Church,
has held more services at that holy site than anywhere else, according to Deaconess Anne Armstrong.
“As if we hadn’t told them, and as if they didn’t know the significance of their own Well, they saw us
there praying daily, even twice getting arrested. If that doesn’t tell them we’re sincere, I don’t know
what does,” says Deaconess Anne. But US Attorneys, for their part, say that the activists’ creed (that
laws should be changed) shows insincerity. “Image if they accused Susan B. Anthony of insincerity when
she sought rights, based upon the fact that she was seeking them,” says Armstrong. Gordon feels the
federal submissions are doomed at a full trial level set for July.
Both Gordon and Armstrong are utterly baffled by what they say is wildly inconsistent behavior from
federal police. The armed federal police decision to only arrest them on alternating days, while standing
by watching on days between arrests. “How can they claim the so-called compelling interest needed to
block communion when they only do it sporadically?”, asks Armstrong.
SAFE ZONE INFO: On p. 9 of the US attorneys’ defense to the claim, it is submitted by US Atty’s that
banning cannabis prayer at Roger Williams’ Well is not an oppression of religion because worshipers are
free to use cannabis anywhere else. Therefore, Deaconess Anne says that she will lead a ceremony at
the Well at 8:00 pm, followed by a cannabis-smoking 7-fold walk around the park (“circumambulation”).
The Deaconess says other adults are free to make their own choice in the matter.
