Karen Heikkala; Austin, Texas
Recent Drug War news items from Texas
DEA Direct Action Day in Austin Awesome Austin activists Tulia Freedom Riders on the move National Vigil Coordinator Awesome Austin Action Karen has been a member of the Drug Policy Forum of Texas and has been the coordinator of the Austin chapter for (about 2 years). In that time she has organized several educational and media events, including: an educational forum on Colombia; the Austin leg of Journey for Justice in 9/2000, which sent the story of Tulia to a national audience; educational fundraiser for the children of Tulia in Christmas 2000; a luncheon for Superior Court Judge James Gray upon the release of his book, Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed; and most recently a successful benefit for the family of a local young man killed during a SWAT drug raid in Dec. of 2001, called Face The Music Festival #1(breaking the silence on drug war violence). Future festivals, highlighting different harms caused by the War on Drugs, will be undertaken as a collaborative effort among musicians and activists in the Austin area.
For quite a long time, Karen has focused on peace and justice issues. She's been a member of the Austin Peace and Justice Coalition for 15 years,(it no longer exists so I would say: a member of the Austin peace and justice community and has published several articles relating to those issues in the alternative press in Austin and nationally. She has served as an educator and fundraiser for several peace causes over the years.
Karen's professional background has been in nursing. She's been a licensed Vocational Nurse for (15) years and has worked in several settings with a primary focus in psychiatric nursing. Working as a substance abuse detox nurse in an indigent setting for 2 years gave her a first hand look at some of the problems addicts face with getting treatment in the U.S.
Happy to bring her life experience and skills to her activism, she knows that with the collective skills, strength and perseverance of all involved with The November Coalition, the Drug War will be turned around.
The Razor Wire, January 2003, Vol. 7 No. 1
DEA Direct Action Day in Austin
We had a successful time at the DEA's outpost here in Austin, Texas on June 6. In solidarity with approximately 60 cities, we held a press conference calling for the DEA to back off raiding the medical cannabis clubs that serve the sick and vulnerable in those states that have legalized marijuana use for medical purposes.
The TV and radio reporters were very interested, and all local channels came out. Tracey Hayes, who is the coordinator for the Safe Access chapter in Austin, did a great job and also did two live radio interviews, one from Dallas and another at KLBJ AM in Austin. KTRH news radio from Houston was at the press conference.
In addition to Tracey Hayes from Safe Access, Noelle Davis read a public record statement from Rep. Dogett, in which he vowed to continue opposing Federal interference, believing this decision is better
left to the states. Zeal Steffenoff, who is a medical cannabis patient; and myself as a
Licensed Vocational Nurse in the state of Texas also did separate interviews.KVUE TV-ABC stayed with us when all of us tried to go upstairs to see the DEA agents and explain our concerns as well as hand them our Truce Statement. Though the DEA men were there, they wouldn't answer the buzzer placed in the lobby, and there was no way to even get to their front door.
OUR tax money apparently pays for them to have an office that is totally inaccessible to the public. The property manager told us he hasn't even been to the third floor where the DEA office is. The elevator only goes to the 2nd and the same for the stairs. The same property manager kindly said he would see that the DEA got our Truce paper.
On the way out of the building we could see someone from the DEA standing behind the framed clouded glass that is the 3rd floor. We couldn't really see in, but they were looking down at us and I'm sure could see out.
As part of this action, a billboard was made and displayed near Highway 71 by the airport which reads, "Arrest Pain, Not Potsmokers, and their Caregivers" and "Safe Access to Medical Marijuana." Also another group, which hasn't claimed responsibility, put up a banner on the Zilker Park moontower which says MEDICINE with cannabis leaves on it.
The Razor Wire, Spring 2002, Vol. 6 No. 1
Awesome Austin activists
We had a great time marketing the hemp energy bars, telling people about the new law (criminalizing hemp products), and getting signatures. Yes, the DEA office was dead here in Austin.
It's in an obscure location in the same building as Corrections Software. I can only guess what they do there. In order to get to their front door it is necessary to ring a bell, and they then talk to you through a speaker and decide if they want to let you up.
We decided to go where there was more action and took it the health food stores. Four of us went in sets of two to do the deed. We got about 130 signatures for the 2-3 hours it took to pass out the samples.
The Razor Wire, July/Aug/Sept 2001, Vol. 5 No. 4
Tulia Freedom Riders on the move
Two buses of Tulia Freedom Riders left Austin at midnight on July 21 heading for Tulia, Texas and the Never Again Rally. On the way, the 65 Freedom Riders stopped at the Wheeler Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility and the adjacent Formby State Jail to hold a vigil.
One of the men captured in the Tulia drug sting is currently in this prison. Together these units confine about 1,500 men. The State Jails in Texas were designed to incarcerate substance abuse offenders but also hold transfer prisoners. The majority at Formby is non-violent, African-Americans held behind fence and razor wire outside the small town of Plainview, Texas, a flat, dry, and very hot place in the summer. Joined by local supporters, we
numbered about 70 strong, standing with signs, which read, Educate Don't Incarcerate and The Drug War Equals Racism. We spread out along the highway and around the corner leading into the units. Twenty or so prison guards came out and formed a front behind us to make sure we stayed on the road and not come any closer to the facilities. One filmed us and the others were silent, refusing to take any November Coalition tabloids offered. In short, they were very uptight about this whole scene and didn't quite know how to deal with us.
A couple of us managed to hand out November Coalition four-page tabloids and Texas Inmate Family newsletters to people arriving in their
cars to visit imprisoned loved ones. These interactions were for me the most satisfying because we could give needed information and resources that may encourage them to stand up and fight for their loved one, motivated by our determined solidarity.An AP reporter and at least one local affiliate of one of the big three major networks covered our vigil. Dan Forbes, of Salon.com, and recent recipient of the Edward M. Brecher Award for Achievement in the Field of Journalism, completed the first leg of the Freedom Ride and was present at the vigil as well.
Numerous stories and pictures have now been displayed in newspapers across Texas, and the vigil was an important part of all the reports. Let's keep this momentum alive!
The Razor Wire, July/Aug 2000, Vol. 4 No. 4
National Vigil Coordinator
My name is Karen Heikkala of Austin, Texas and I'm very pleased to announce that I will be the new National Vigil Coordinator starting in the beginning of July. I look forward to working with all of you as we continue this project and increase its presence and influence through this year.
The process of vigilance is dear to my heart as it empowers all of us who come together to stand in witness to America's unjust policies. Not only does it strengthen us, but I know it gives hope to those inside the walls, knowing they are not forgotten, as our policymakers would like them to be. The people that happen to cross our paths in the midst of the vigils can't help but be affected when they see our committment, let alone the information we have to share with them.
I have been a member of Drug Policy Forum of Texas and have been the coordinator of the Austin Chapter for four months. My professional background has been in nursing. I have been a Licensed Vocational Nurse for 13 years, working in several settings with a focus primarily in psychiatric nursing.
In my private life I've focused on peace and justice issues. I have been a member of the Austin Peace and Justice Coalition for 15 years, which is an umbrella group to 30 progressive Austin organizations. During my affiliation with the group I have worked with the publication of the newsletter as an editor and writer and am currently serving on the committee which oversees the e-mail calendar of events. Throughout the years I have worked as a fund-raiser, board member, and public educator with various groups within the coalition.
I'm very happy to bring my life experience and skills to this new job and I know that with our collective skills, strength, and perseverance we will turn this Drug War around. We'll be in touch.
The Razor Wire, Vol. 4 No. 2, March/April 2000
Awesome Austin Action
Hi There Vigilizers,
Here's a report on our actions here. We held a press conference on the capitol steps at 12 noon. One of our State Representatives, Elliot Naistat, led off, followed by several other very well spoken people. We heard someone from Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE), a prison reform group, followed by a criminal defense attorney who works as a law professor, and then a University of Texas professor of anthropology and leader of the Texas Civil Rights Project, and others.One TV channel covered it very well, and there was an Associated Press reporter present as well as independent press. Our daily newspaper didn't show.
Later in the day we held the vigil in front of good ol G. Dubya Bush's mansion. About twenty people showed up, and a couple more TV channels using good video shots and an interview with Sebastian of the Texas Hemp Campaign reported on our efforts.
Upon reflection, I think we may have diffused the event by scheduling two separate ones, but yet I knew our Representative and some of the others wouldn't have come to the vigil. So I'm still trying to figure out that strategy.
Next plan is to try and get an editorial into our daily newspaper, The American Statesman.
Thanks for all your support.
Karen Heikkala - Drug Policy Forum of Texas (Austin) & Vigil Co-ordinator
Recent Drug War news items from Texas
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