Pubdate: Thu, 05 Feb 2015
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2015 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Jon Murray

4/20 FEST MAY GET 3RD DAY WITH SMALLER POT EVENTS

When Denver denied the 4/ 20 Rally festival's request to expand to a 
third day this year, sought because the annual pot holiday falls on a 
Monday, it looked like disorganization would rule Civic Center during 
the traditional afternoon pot smoke-out. But no longer. Well, maybe. 
Two other organizers have stepped into the void, applying for public 
assembly permits for simpler April 20 political rallies that likely 
would be exempt from a new event moratorium at the park. Those await 
city approval.

And a third potential stripped-down pro-marijuana political rally- 
planned by the huge 4/ 20 fest's main organizer - is shaping up that 
afternoon across Broadway, on state Capitol grounds.

Along with the potential cluster of competing rallies on state and 
city property, planning for April 20 comes with intra-movement 
politics, including some jockeying for position.

The 4/ 20 fest's Miguel Lopez is close with Anthony Marquez II, who 
applied Jan. 22 for one of the Civic Center assembly permits. That 
was just one day after the first application was submitted by 
marijuana activist Robert Chase.

Chase, who rails against state legislators' proposals for further 
marijuana regulation, says he wants to encourage attendees to take 
direct political action.

He says he wants "to direct the attention of the people present in 
the park to the authors of prohibition who now are making bad 
policy," exhorting them to speak up. He sees Coloradans' legal access 
to marijuana as far from safeguarded.

But Lopez and Marquez say Chase's approach is caustic and could drive 
people away from his megaphone.

"He's great for what he does," Marquez said about Chase, "but I feel 
- - and I know from my experience working in the community - that I can 
connect with a lot more people here."

Marquez's and Lopez's events are more likely to mix music and other 
entertainment with a broader political message about the need to 
legalize marijuana elsewhere, they say. They say they're talking 
about coordinating.

It's possible the city could approve both Civic Center events, 
dividing up the park.

City officials planned to meet Thursday to begin considering the two 
permit requests, said Katy Strascina, executive director of the 
Denver Office of Special Events.

"We're not in a position to deny First Amendment ( assemblies)," 
Strascina said. But officials may consider whether Civic Center can 
accommodate both events.

Chase's application says he expects 5,000 attendees, while Marquez, 
who also proposes a stage for bands and food and non- alcoholic 
beverage sales, expects 25,000.

Lopez's April 20 rally would take place in the park between Broadway 
and Lincoln Street. He says he already has cleared most hurdles to 
secure a Capitol permit, because the weekend 4/ 20 fest also uses the 
same area, in addition to Civic Center.

Last month, Lopez bristled at the city's decision to deny his request 
to add Monday as a third day of the 4/ 20 festival, which brings at 
least tens of thousands to Civic Center each day for big-name music 
acts and advocacy.

He declined an option to keep the festival at two days but shift it 
to Sunday/ Monday.

Now Lopez says the potential hodgepodge of smaller rallies on April 
20, with a more overtly political focus, "works out perfectly for us."

"They forced us to think of something even better," he said about 
city officials.

Police have told The Denver Post that they will arrange to have 
enough officers on hand April 20 to keep watch on any gatherings. 
They typically focus more on safety than on issuing citations for 
public pot smoking, banned by ordinance.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom