• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • BOSTON BETTER BEER BUREAU
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Greater Boston's Alternative News Source

THE OTHER BOSTON CITY HALL EXTORTION STORY

Written by ANDY GAUS Posted June 21, 2016 Filed Under: COLUMNS, NEWS+OPINIONS, The Tokin' Truth

Untitled drawing (4)
Freedom Rally photo by Mike Crawford

 

How Boston officials put police pressure on cannabis activists

 

The United States Department of Justice may be investigating Boston City Hall employees for allegedly pushing Boston Calling music festival promoters to hire union stagehands, but there is another form of similar extortion that has continued unabated for years. Just consider MassCann’s annual struggle to secure permits for its Freedom Rally each September.

 

Before issuing permits, officials often hold a so-called citywide meeting with representatives of all affected departments of government. One such meeting took place on May 16, chaired by the since-indicted Kenneth Brissette, then director of the office of sports, tourism, and entertainment for Boston. At that meeting, city officials asked MassCann to hire a contingent of Boston police officers as security. Speaking for MassCann, activist Bill Downing said the group planned on hiring the park rangers to secure the festivities, and didn’t need the police. The meeting ended inconclusively, and instead of approving the permit, the city called a second citywide meeting on June 6—the first time there has been a second such meeting in the rally’s 29-year history.

 

The second get-together was not chaired by Brissette, because he was arrested three days after the first meeting on charges of extortion for allegedly holding up permits for Boston Calling unless they hired union labor.

 

But even with Brissette absent, his spirit marched on.

 

Again, MassCann was asked to hire Boston cops. Downing replied that cops present at previous rallies have not spent their time on security but on arresting people, and insisted that rangers could handle the job nicely. John Swomley, lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, reminded the city that he had sued the city on MassCann’s behalf before and was prepared to do it again.

 

Hiring the cops is a particular sore point with MassCann, given the department’s history of trying to create crimes from scratch, with undercover agents attempting to buy small amounts of weed from rallygoers who otherwise had no intention of selling. This year, MassCann is determined to prevent the police from profiting off the rally.

 

At this point, however, there is still no official resolution.

 

US Attorney Carmen Ortiz, are you listening?

 

Andy Gaus is a Massachusetts-based cannabis advocate and a member of MassCann-NORML.

ANDY GAUS
+ posts

Andy Gaus is a longtime cannabis advocate and a member of MassCann.

    This author does not have any more posts.

Filed Under: COLUMNS, NEWS+OPINIONS, The Tokin' Truth Tagged With: Andy Gaus, Boston, Boston City Hall, cannabis, Carmen Ortiz, extortion, Freedom Rally, Kenneth Brissette, Marijuana, Massachusetts, MassCann, The Tokin' Truth

WHAT’S NEW

State Wire: Mass Legislation Aims To Improve Language Access For All

State Wire: Mass Legislation Aims To Improve Language Access For All

State Wire: Mass Launches Free Legal Advice Hotline Regarding Abortion Care

State Wire: Mass Launches Free Legal Advice Hotline Regarding Abortion Care

State Wire: Mass Bill Would Tighten Restrictions On Facial Recognition Technology

State Wire: Mass Bill Would Tighten Restrictions On Facial Recognition Technology

Mass Higher Ed Advocates Urge More Investment In Students 

Mass Higher Ed Advocates Urge More Investment In Students 

Guest Opinion: Promoting Metal Detectors In BPS Perpetuates Dangerous Narrative

Guest Opinion: Promoting Metal Detectors In BPS Perpetuates Dangerous Narrative

State Wire: Mass Leads Nation In 'Green' Building Development

State Wire: Mass Leads Nation In ‘Green’ Building Development

Primary Sidebar

LOCAL EVENTS

AAN Wire


Most Popular

  • Think Massachusetts Cannabis Prices Are Low Now? Just Wait Six Months!
  • A New Beginning For Formerly Incarcerated Women
  • Jerrod Carmichael Has First Show After Coming Out—At the Wilbur In Boston
  • Why Are Cannabis Prices Really Crashing?
  • Dig This: Thousands Of Furries Flocking To Anthro New England 

Footer

Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Advertise

Customer Service

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an email blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: sales@digboston.com To reach editorial (and for inquiries about internship opportunities): editorial@digboston.com