“Fayetteville’s 2019 Special Election seems to have been a way of getting the least amount of people to participate in voting as possible, and to ensure that those who could access the vote were those most likely to vote in favor of the issues. The issues themselves were also so conflated in their promotion that people were unaware that they could vote for some and against other measures on the ballot. In short, this special election disenfranchised Fayetteville voters, and resulted in a regressive sales tax that hurts poor folks disproportionately.”
In 2020, activists and organizers began to file FOIAs to examine the history of the 2019 special election. Click below for FOIA responses to the following requests:
- FOIA Requesting Evidence of the discussions leading to the Tax Initiative
Read the report ‘A Myth of Progress’ here. Alternatively, listen to an audio version here.
The City of Fayetteville continues to arrest hundreds of people for marijuana use despite the 2008 Low Prioritization law. Our community has offered 4 solutions to this violence. They are:
1. Immediate end to misdemeanor marijuana arrests.
2. Immediate implementation of an advisory committee to ensure fair policing and prosecution in Fayetteville.
3. Immediate end to funding of and participation in the Drug Task Force, and instead funding opportunities for disadvantaged young people, like resources for the ALLPS school.
4. Immediate implementation of a prosecutorial policy to drop the charges of anyone simply possessing marijuana.
DEMAND ACTION NOW
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SPREAD THE WORD
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Daniel’s Case: State Violence Perpetuates Cycles of Poverty
Community Meeting
Speak your mind, join community, and hear from city officials on bringing justice to this issue.
Thursday, July 11th, 2019
6:30 PM
Fayetteville Marijuana Arrests,
2008 & 2018
A link to the raw data of the 2008 & 2018 arrests is available here.
AJC Report, “A Myth of Progress”
Arkansas Justice Collective’s thorough report on the City’s ongoing violence against marijuana users, especially young Black people, is available here.