from: http://www.zolatimes.com/V4.29/peter_mcwilliams.html Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.zolatimes.com/V4.29/peter_mcwilliams.html">The Thought Police Killed My Friend: Peter McWi…</A> ----- The Thought Police Killed My Friend Peter McWilliams, 1950-2000 by Sunni Maravillosa They did it. The Thought Police have killed my friend. No, it wasn't a shootout, nor a protracted, fiery siege on his publishing company, nor even a drug raid gone bad... The specific details aren't really important; what matters is that, after years of harassment, they've finally killed Peter McWilliams. The short version is that the Thought Police killed Peter in a slow, cruel fashion, beginning in 1997 when he became a target because of his advocacy for medicinal marijuana (MMJ). He had AIDS and cancer, and MMJ was the only thing enabling him to keep his lifesaving medications—and much-needed food—down. Despite the new laws making MMJ legal in California, the DEA eventually arrested Peter on "federal charges" and jailed him without his medications. As one of many onerous conditions for parole, they forbade him from using MMJ, the only thing he and his doctor had found that kept his extreme nausea in check. In his typical inimitable style, Peter found a way to handle this challenge, altering his daily routine drastically in order to try to keep his medications in his system without using MMJ. He didn't share too many of the gory details, other than to say that vomiting had become a way of life for him. In the end, however, the routine wasn't enough, and on June 14 Peter McWilliams died from choking on his own vomit. It doesn't take a sophisticated logician to create a powerful argument showing cause and effect here. Peter chose not to use MMJ because of the conditions of his parole—both his mother's and his brother's house were put up as property bail. That meant that if he violated any of the conditions of his parole, those houses would become the property of the government. In the pre-trial hearings, Judge George King—an apt name—ruled that the defense could not mention Peter's illnesses, the legality of MMJ in California, nor anything, seemingly, that would give a jury a reason to return a "not guilty" verdict. As a result, probably feeling he had no other practical choice, Peter pled guilty, in hopes that his King George would show leniency in the sentencing. The judge could sentence him to house arrest—really Peter's only chance to live. Some choose to find fault with this decision, arguing that Peter took an expedient course rather than the moral route of refusing to plead guilty. Although one can characterize his decision as "caving in", I wonder how many freedom-lovers would choose that route if it were their lives at stake. In addition, McWilliams knew the health risks he was taking— having been denied his medications for a while in jail had caused his health to suffer, and he knew that would be an ongoing threat while not smoking MMJ. It was at that point that he probably began to see the reality of the death trap set for him, and knew what was in his future. Whatever one may think of Peter McWilliams' decision to plead guilty to the charges he faced, he was a man who understood freedom, who wrote passionately and beautifully about it, and in my opinion tried his best to live consistently with his principles. There aren't many like him, and he will be greatly missed. This isn't a eulogy for Peter, however. I don't think I can properly write such a piece, as my mind continually wanders from my friend's life and contributions to freedom to the circumstances leading to his death. I think Peter would understand that, though. He knew what he was fighting against, and for, and to be remembered in the context of his cause would be valued by him. Peter McWilliams' death is a powerful reminder of why I value freedom, why I have no faith in the system to fix itself with some help from "our side", and why I speak out and take actions that are pro-freedom. This country, once the land of the free, is now the land of the free-for-all by the state. My voice isn't "represented" by sham elections that foist more shackles on the people. My views aren't what's fed to the sheeple on the 6:00 snews, pre-masticated and prettified to paint a politically correct picture of society. My life isn't tied to those who would make slaves of us all simply to satisfy their lust for power. A society that can look away while its government kills a man for simply trying to live his life and keep his health is seriously ill itself. As Peter did, we who recognize the ugly brutality of the tyranny in the United States must take whatever steps we can to help others see it, to resist it as much as we can, and to remember our fallen compatriots. Peter had written many individuals, asking that they send polite requests to Judge King to show leniency in sentencing McWilliams. Now that the thugs can no longer hurt him, I recommend we take a slightly different approach, and let the bastards know exactly what we think of their so-called "justice". My partner, Don Lobo Tiggre, has written an essay (http://www.doingfreedom.com/gen/0600/lrtupd72.html#Peter) outlining our ideas for doing so. In a more gentle approach, Free-Market.Net has established a memorial Web site for Peter, at http://www.forahero.com/. Anyone who wishes may leave a brief personal message. The signatures and comments will be printed, bound, and presented to Peter's mother. If you'd like to participate, please visit the site before September 30, 2000. The Thought Police killed Peter McWilliams in hopes they would silence his voice. They've accomplished that, but only in a literal way. By killing my friend, our would-be rulers have strengthened my resolve, and will create new activists out of many of those who have previously been silent. I think Peter would consider that a fitting tribute. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunni Maravillosa is a psychologist and web mistress for the Liberty Round Table (URL http://home.lrt.org/ ). -30- from The Laissez Faire City Times, Vol 4, No 29, July 17, 2000 %%< ´ <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! 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