DISSENT, once an ideal cherished in the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, now invites media attacks, hate Web sites, threats, job loss and now the changing of one's child's name!! "The first amendment is clearly under attack"

Across the United States, hundreds of Americans have been arrested for protesting the Iraqi war. The American Civil Liberties Union has documented more than 300 allegations of wrongful arrest and police brutality from demonstrators at anti-war rallies in Washington and New but none have been more directly persecuted than I have.The old saying, "everyone agrees with the concept and principals of "FREE SPEECH" until you exercise that RIGHT by saying something they don't like"; applies even to New Jersey Judge's. While Judge's of all people should be aware of the RIGHT to "FREE SPEECH" in regards to me, my speech and my religion they consistently prove they are human, biased, religiously intolerant and prejudiced. (Thus unfit to be Judge's) What I say publicly is: the drug war is racist,  "LEGALIZE MARIJUANA", abortion is murder, legalize prostitution, our war in Iraq is illegal, and I don’t believe the Government version of 911. What New Jersey Judge's consistently do to me for saying such things is punish me!

The most recent example of this is Burlington County Judge Sweeney ordering my child’s surname changed from mine "FORCHION" to my ex-fiancé’s surname "HOLDEN". On Feb 12th, Linda Holden the mother of my 9 year old daughter AJANEA filed a petition before Judge Sweeney to change our daughters surname citing my "PUBLIC POLITICAL VIEWS", I opposed this motion in court on May 10^th, 2004. Again, what I say is the "WAR on DRUGS is racist","LEGALIZE MARIJUANA" etc., etc.,.. Millions of people say the same, millions of people believe it should be legal and regardless of the legality of it, millions use it for a variety of reasons "including me". This issue of "marijuana's legalization" is a nation-wide political debate that many politicians and even some Judge's agree with. I have every right to enter this debate!

Yet, on May 11th, 2004 Judge Sweeney to my surprise granted my scorned ex-'s petition. Just think about the implications of this, for expressing a particular "political view". Judge Sweeney has punished me by having my child's name changed. I was proud to name my child after me, all my children are named after me and I’m a part of all my children’s lives. This petition to re-name of my child was a low blow from my ex. that I didn't think would be judicially approved. I never heard of a "pro-abortion activist" having his child's name changed because he supported murdering defenseless unborn children. My ex believes in abortions, could I now petition to have my child's name- changed because of that? I never heard of a politician who supported, "gay rights" having something like this done to him. Imagine Gov McGreevy and Mrs. McGreevy divorcing and a Judge changing his kid's name based on his "public political views", he supports same sex unions and is a Democrat. The implications and precedent Judge Sweeney’s decision could become if allowed to stand is outrageous, I wish to appeal but have no lawyer. Imagine republican women petitioning a Judge to change her child’s name because her ex husband is a democrat. Judge Sweeney, not only is an "asshole" he's gutted the meaning of the first amendment. Calling him an ASSHOLE in public is also protected free speech.

.

As surprised as I was at Judge Sweeney's ruling I shouldn't have been, my experience with several New Jersey Judge's is they don't believe the RIGHT to "free speech" applies to "non-Christian African-Americans" like myself. I'm Just a Nigger to them, because I'm a follower of the "RASTAFARIAN faith" which accepts the "herb" marijuana as a religious sacrament. In general here in America African religions aren't respected by most Christians as religions. I consistently "proselytize" about my faith, but these Judge's refuse to acknowledge my Right to freedom of religion or to talk about an aspect of my faith "marijuana". I speak of my faith and my faith is the genesis of my championing the "political issue" of marijuana legalization. As it is now, to practice my faith is as illegal here in America which claims to have "freedom of religion" as Faluan Gong is in China, Christianity is in Saudi Arabia or Quakerism was in colonial England.

This country was founded on freedom of Religion by Quakers fleeing religious persecution. My born-again ex, (now a Pentecostal Christian) is repulsed with my choice of faiths and has consistently used the Burlington County Family court Judge's (religious intolerance) as a weapon to keep my child from me and now has used this same bias to gain a favorable name-change ruling based on my "political views". These Judge’s are HYPOCRITES! (I've attached a copy of Judge's ruling.)

EXAMPLE: Last year (2003) Jewish Judge Lihotz and Christian Judge Morley both ordered that I not talk to my daughter about marijuana, even though everyday I see “ONCDP” or “the Partnership for a drug free America” commercials telling parents to talk to their kids about drugs. Apparently these Judge’s only want parents that mimic the lie’s of the Governments Drug Policy to talk to their kids about drugs. I tell the truth about marijuana not the Government lie’s. I speak of the Religious significance of “marijuana” thus Judge Lihotz and Morley’s unconstitutional order’s that I not talk to my kid’s about marijuana. (see attached)

ANOTHER EXAMPLE: In 1998 Burlington County Judge Bell took my visitation after my ex-(Linda Holden) came to court with newspaper stories and quotes of me saying, "LEGALIZE MARIJUANA". When I ran for Congress under the "Legalize Marijuana Party- (www.tlmp.org)", it took me 5 years (2003) to re-gain every other weekend visitation! (With the above restrictions on my speech). This year I announced I'm again running for Congress here in the 3^rd district under the slogan: U.S. Marijuana Party. Thus my ex's Feb. petition to change my daughters name!

On June 3rd, 2002 I protested a family court ruling by Burlington County Family Court Judge Almeida (I asked to have my visitation restored, he only asked me if I still believed in "legalization" when I answered in the affirmative he denied visitation) by standing outside the Courthouse with a big sign criticizing him. The Burlington County Times and the Trentonian reported on my protest. Which was perfectly legal under the "right to petition for redress” clause of the 1st Amendment. Yet, three days later on June 6^th, 2003 Ocean County Judge Giovine signed an arrest warrant and I was jailed in the Burlington County court for 4 days because I was previously “illegally ordered” by state ISP officials (Intensive Supervision Program) not to talk about "marijuana" or to the press.

To protest Judge Giovines illegal arrest, I decided to make three free speech "political ad's" calling for the end of the "WAR on DRUGS" and attempted to air them on Comcast Cable. For this legal exercise in "free speech" on August 19th, 2002 “Judge Giovine” again ordered me arrested. I spent 5 months in the Burlington County jail.

In my ad’s I said nothing illegal; I didn't advocate doing anything illegal I simply questioned the "WAR on DRUGS". You can see the political ad's yourself at: www.njweedman.com/censorship. For this I sat in the Burlington County jail for expressing my "political opinion", as far as I know this has never happened to any white marijuana activist anywhere in the nation. Upon jailing me I immediately filed a federal "WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS", it took 5 months, but eventually Judge Irenas ordered the Judge's of New Jersey to release me citing my imprisonment was in violation of my federal RIGHT to FREE SPEECH. Judge Irenas ruled:

"The First Amendment exists so as to promote debate on issues of public importance. In this case, the advocacy of the legalization of marijuana is a legitimate political position in this country. The Libertarian Party, whose presidential candidate received over 380,000 votes in the 2000 election, advocates the legalization of drugs. Libertarian Party website at http://www.lp.org/issues/relegalize.html and http://www.lp.org/campaigns/pres/. Many elected public officials have called for a liberalization of the nation's drug laws. Simply put, Plaintiff's place in this debate will do nothing to harm a public that is already itself debating the current state of our nation's drug laws". FORCHION Vs STATE of NEW JERSEY, 2d 240 F.Supp 302

Now, Judge Sweeney is perfectly aware of this ruling and my "religious belief's" yet he's granted the petition to change my daughters name inviolation of my Constitutional Rights because he obviously just doesn't agree with my "POLITICAL EXPRESSION” or respect my RIGHT to “FREEDOM of RELIGION” nor my right to publicly espouse my religious belief's. Even thou this clearly is a crime Judge Sweeney knows he’s immune for any crime he commits from the bench. BTW- America has 130,000 troops in Iraq with the claim delivering "freedom". I just wish I had a lawyer.

While it is clear to some people (me included) that the "War on Drugs" violates basic Constitutional and human rights, it is also obvious to me that the view of those who are vested in law enforcement (or with the power to make laws and interpret rights) consider it a foregone conclusion that the drug laws are constitutional. To even bring up the topic of rights in regards to "drug issues" many times harden the resolve of lawmakers and judges because it implies that they have failed to understand the true meaning of the Constitution. So despite the principal of free speech it clearly is dangerous to publicly question the drug laws. Some say I should be glad, 50 years ago these good Christians would have had me lynched or 300 years ago I'd been burned at the stake for heresy.

I understand that many Americans could careless if "marijuana" is legal or not, yet every American should be outraged at the persecution and abuse I've suffered for saying, "end the racist war on drugs" and proselytizing about my faith.

Many times I pray that one day I'll get a New Jersey Judge who understands "FREE SPEECH" and recognizes that I know the risks of these "public" arguments. Instead I consistently find myself persecuted another Christian New Jersey Judge, law enforcement and the justice system for exercising my RIGHT to "FREE SPEECH" by espousing my religious belief's. I've prayed that the judges courageously adhere to the natural law of justice--tempered perhaps by the radiant glow of a little kindness, tolerance, understanding and mercy but consistently instead I'm met with distain and the denial of the basic right to "FREE SPEECH".

Currently, even though I’m a legally qualified candidate for Congress and Burlington County Freeholder Comcast is refusing to air my "POLITICAL AD's" again and so far even Federal Judge Wolfson has declined to issue an injunction ordering Comcast to allow my Political ad's to be aired. So much for “fair elections”

Edward Forchion

AKA- “NJWEEDMAN.COM”

3rd district candidate for Congress

(609)509-0133