FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Jody L. Miller
Ellen Zoe Golden
JLM PR, Inc.
(212) 431-5227
[email protected]
[email protected]

STATEMENT

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, from its inception, has always fought to protect the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, fundamental to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Four months ago, we served notice that we intended to mobilize a March on New York to further raise public awareness about the unfairness of the Rockefeller Drug Laws in New York and other mandatory minimum sentencing laws around the country. As we began negotiations with the New York City Police Department for an August 30 permit to march and rally on the first day of the Republican National Convention, we were informed of other organizations, such as Still We Rise, who also wanted to march or assemble on that date. We readily agreed to file a joint application with the New York City Police Department for the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Still We Rise. Thus, the formal name of what was planned for August 30 became the March on New York: Still We Rise.

Regrettably, due to increased security measures and safety concerns around the Republican National Convention and the timing of the MTV Video Music Awards in Miami where a number of the leading hip-hop artists will be, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network has decided not to participate in the March on New York: Still We Rise. The large-scale march that we had originally planned, given these circumstances, is not now feasible. We wish, however, the Still We Rise Coalition all the best for success in their mobilization, march and assembly on August 30th and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will make a donation to Still We Rise in support of them for their march. HSAN looks forward to continuing its work to increase public awareness around the unfairness of the Rockefeller Drug Laws.