Tommy Chong Updates

“bullet”Chong Family Values in the LA Weekly:

The word most used by Paris and Precious Chong to describe their father’s ordeal is “surreal.” “They couldn’t have picked a kinder, more generous person to throw in jail than my father,” Paris says. Today the family remains afraid of what the Justice Department might yet do to their father, and it is plain from speaking to them that they fear being quoted as saying anything that might antagonize it. “I don’t want to say anything against the government because I don’t want anything to happen to my children,” says Shelby. In a strange twist of fate, the Chongs have become an example for every American family in this new age of conformity.

“Growing up, I’d always had this fear that our family wasn’t like everyone else,” says Precious Chong, “and that we’d be punished for it someday — and then this happened. My parents never locked their doors. They do now.”

It’s a great article that details the entire sorry episode. Read the whole thing.
“bullet”Tommy Chong’s Next Movie by Dean Kuipers

“The DEA agent that busted me said, ‘We don’t want your son or your wife, although we could indict them, too. But if you just give yourself up, don’t make it a political or a publicity thing, then nothing will happen to you,’” Chong adds. “And the last thing that he said to me was, ‘You don’t want to be a martyr.'”

Martyrdom, however, was nearly impossible to avoid considering the current political climate. On the day of the arrest, Ashcroft held a press conference in Washington, D.C. and applauded efforts to scrub the dirty Internet, saying, “The illegal drug paraphernalia industry has invaded the homes of families across the country without their knowledge.” John Walters, Drug Czar and head of the ONDCP, author of the deadly “shoot first” policy in Peru that killed a missionary flying a small plane in 2001, said, “We will act decisively to protect our young people from the harms of illegal drugs.” John Brown, acting administrator of the DEA, summed it all up, noting, “People selling drug paraphernalia are in essence no different than drug dealers.”

Yep, another great article.
“bullet”Chongstock Concert

The bands Mule, Mike Stinson, Dale Peterson, Random Joe Citizen and Cody Lapow
are doing a show in support of the Free Tommy Chong movement. The event takes
place Saturday, December 13th at THE CINEMA BAR, 3967 SEPULVEDA BLVD, CULVER
CITY, CA, 310-390-1328. Be sure to bring a pen to sign petitions.

“bullet”The Commies Nice to see all the comments on Tommy Chong on Comedy Central’s new Award Show, including giving him the award for “Best Comedian Behind Bars” accepted by Cheech who started the celebrity audience chanting “Free Tommy Chong!”