{news} "War on Drugs" Opponent to Speak in Norwalk

[Clifford Thornton]

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Contact:

Efficacy                                                                                           DFA Fairfield County
PO Box 1234                                                                                               John Hartwell
860 657 8438                                                                                            203-216-1425
Hartford, CT 06143                                                               johnhartwell at democracyforct.net<mailto:johnhartwell at democracyforct.net>
efficacy at msn.com<mailto:efficacy at msn.com>                                                                          www.democracyforct.net<http://www.democracyforct.net/>
www.Efficacy-online.org<http://www.efficacy-online.org/>

"War on Drugs" Opponent to Speak in Norwalk

"The drug war is meant to be waged, not won."  This is the message that Clifford Thornton, international expert on drug policy and 2006 Green Party candidate for Governor, will bring to the December 5th MeetUp of Fairfield County Democracy for America in Norwalk.  The meeting will take place at 7:00pm at the Silver Star Diner, 210 Connecticut Avenue.  Admission is free and the public is urged to attend.

"Just the other night," said Thornton, "two more people were killed in drug-related violence in Hartford.  What are we going to do about it?  And why are the sentences of some white offenders commuted to community service and rehabilitation instead of what most people color endure -- jail or prison time?" 

"This discussion is long overdue," said Scott Kimmich, a local DFA supporter.  "We spend billions every year with very little to show for it."

Thornton is a retired African-American businessman who encourages citizens to re-examine drug policy, challenges the mentality of the drug war, and promotes open discussion of alternatives and public-health awareness. Although he speaks about the need to change the laws regarding all drugs, Thornton believes that marijuana law reform is the key to all drug policy reform, and in 1995 he founded Efficacy, a non-profit devoted to drug policy education.  More information on Efficacy can be found at their web site www.Efficacy-online.org<http://www.efficacy-online.org/>.

In the last three years Thornton has spoken to over 400,000 people on drug reform in some 450 venues all over the U.S., Columbia, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand, and he has been interviewed on 500 radio shows.  As a result of his tireless advocacy Thornton is the 2007 recipient of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation's Robert C. Randall Award for Achievement in the Field of Citizen Action.  

Democracy for America is a national grassroots group dedicated to supporting socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates at every level of government.  Fairfield County meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month in Norwalk and focus on national, state, and local issues.  See www.democracyforct.net<http://www.democracyforct.net/> for more information.

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