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Russell Simmons Continues Fight Against Rockerfeller Drug Laws

Written by AllHipHop on March 26, 2009 2:54 pm

Pioneering Hip-Hop mogul and activist Russell Simmons led a protest today (March 25) in Manhattan to end the controversial Rockefeller Drug Laws.

The rally began this afternoon in front of Governor David Paterson’s Manhattan office, located at 633 3rd Ave. Enacted in 1973, Rockefeller Drug Laws decree stiff mandatory sentences of 15-25 years to life in prison for selling 56 grams or more of narcotics, including marijuana.

The bill has received criticism for its perceived focus on low-level and minority offenders, mostly incarcerated for possessing small amounts of crack cocaine.

Although moderate reforms were made in 2004, Simmons is pushing for the New York Senate and Governor Paterson to support a new Assembly bill that will restore judicial discretion in sentencing.

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Tags: Protest, Russell Simmons
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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Kountry_Mayne/ Kountry_Mayne

    Yea theres alot of laws out here that are totally rediculous. You can kill some one and not get a stiff 15-25 to life. Animal abuse gets you a stiff 15-25 to life. You get tickets for not wearing a seatbelt while moped drivers get to ride without a helmet. Sounds like some one in the government is really confused.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ms_real2008/ ms_real2008

    I don’t blame him, I believe that its just rediculous and another way to keep minorities off the streets. I mean a pedophile can get a lesser sentence for damanging a child, but a drug dealer who isn’t forcing anything on anyone gets 15- 25 yrs in jail. What is this world coming to?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Black_Swan_63/ Black_Swan_63

    What I would like to see is more of our people not dealing in drugs at all. I know that’s easier said than done. Times have changed so drasticalluy over the years. We must spread more pride among ourselves to dismantle this type of socialization. We need to pull our children off of the streets. They need government programs that will provide free assistance toward finding jobs, offer summer camps, etc. I remember we had these services when I was a kid. The economy has gone to hell since then.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Dont_play2/ Dont_play2

    sell ing drugs is illegal and anyone caught with it should be tried and imprisoned…..it’s a damn shamed that some of you are condoning drug sale…stay in school and get a FUKN JOB! This should be a wake up call for all you Jr. high/ high schoolers to stay out of the trap….Russell should be in the schools in his community taking to youth about the importance of education and the down fall of criminal activity! He a grown azz man with lots of money; I say go to the ghettos and present hope for kids becoming Drs, lawyers, engineers, psychologist and educators etc and not thugged out rappers and dope dealers.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Da_Chi_Type/ Da_Chi_Type

    if u really think about it like this. wat would happen if a miracle happens and all the drug dealers were to stop sellin and the users were to stop using…a lot of cops federal agents would be out of work thats just wat i think

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/wincie/ wincie

    He needs to sit his old ass down

  • http://www.blackinfo.net/?p=13256 OPINION: Russell Simmons: “Banks Are Bullying The Poor” | Black Info.Net

    [...] Russell Simmons Continues Fight Against Rockerfeller Drug Laws [...]

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