This morning Free Greene County presented petitions containing the validated signatures of more than 1,700 registered county voters, more than 20 percent of the county electorate. Now, the issue of whether or not the sale and possession of beer and light wine will be allowed in Greene County will have its rightful place on the general election ballot.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our supporters, fighting against four decades of closed minds, fear, and business as usual, the people will decide the law that governs this county. Thanks to their hard work, county residents have seen the same old, tired ways of doing business are no longer acceptable, and that a new generation is standing up and exercising their rights to advocate for positive changes in their home.
This is not a moral or religious issue. This issue is about individual choice and an individual’s right to make their own choices. Some people choose to not accept the choices of others, or tolerate them, dictating their moral and religious beliefs over the rights of others. However, the arc of the moral universe is long, but curves toward justice. What was accomplished today is a validation of that principle. Long held notions based on fear and intolerance will not stand.
Voters, arm yourselves not with harsh words and fear-based rhetoric, but with reason, fact, and tolerance for your fellow man. Over the next 60 days, those not accepting the notion an individual is the best person to make decisions for themselves will dwell in houses of deceit and fear, drink from a cup of bitterness, and sharpen swords of hate. Those people are not who represent this county. They will not accept the rights of others whom they deem as inferior, and that will be their own undoing.
Instead, sew seeds of knowledge. For every harsh and fearful word, meet it with understanding, kindness, and a firm respect for your own liberty. In the end, the side doing that will truly win.
We’ve come a long way, but the journey has only begun. Let’s work together for freedom and justice and make our home a place that accepts all. See you in the trenches.
It’s time. End Prohibition. Free Greene County. Vote Wet.
Free Greene County released two ad layouts on their Facebook Page. The group is circulating a petition to bring alcohol sales in the county to a vote. One of these ads could be considered controversial, and sparked many comments on the organizations Facebook Page.
(Click The Image To View A Larger Version)
GREENE COUNTY, MS (WDAM) – -
A petition is circulating in Greene County to get a referendum on the ballot in November that would allow for the sale of beer and light wine in the county.
Greene has been a dry county since the 70′s. Not only is it illegal to sell alcohol, but it is also illegal to consume it or carry in from outside the county.
In order for the referendum to get on the ballot about 1700-signatures will be needed. They have 1300.
. . .
We are nearly halfway to our required goal of 1,600 signatures to put Greene County going wet for beer and light wine to a vote.
Meanwhile, we have been getting reports that some individuals are tampering with petitions. While we are greatly in favor of individuals practicing their right to free speech, tampering with a petition does not fall within that realm and is a crime punishable by up to five years in the state penitentiary and a $500 fine, or both, under 97-9-3 of the Mississippi Code.
Official signature count is at 297, which is from our first batch of petitions we submitted a little more than a week ago. However, we’ve got a batch with more than 40 complete sheets submitted, which could have more than 500 signatures. We still have another 20 out and about being signed, so we’re doing well. Keep up the good work and if someone hasn’t signed because they aren’t registered to vote, send us an email and we’ll get them registered!
If you know of a business that would like to host a petition call 601.467.9571 or email freegreenecounty@gmail.com.
End Prohibition. Free Greene County. Vote Wet.
. . .
The law requires a minimum of 1,500 verified signatures of county voters for the issue to be put on the ballot. The county’s circuit clerk will verify the signatures.
For one week the petitions have been circulating in the county, and so far we have on hand 30 completed petition sheets, which equals about 420 signatures. A big thanks goes out to all the individuals who have taken these to area businesses, along with friends and relatives, to get the critical signatures we need to make our effort a reality. If we continue on the track we’re on, by August we should have more than enough signatures to put our referendum on the ballot, and, that, ladies and gentlemen is what a democracy is all about.
We aren’t done yet, though. If you know of a business that would like to host a petition, email us at freegreenecounty@gmail.com and we’ll be sure to get them some.
Besides the petitions, the past week has seen the most movement for the organization and its issues thus far. Large donors have pledged funds, our meeting last week also raised more than $200, our website is nearing completion, and tomorrow we will take our first batch of petitions to the circuit clerks office for validation.
So, to help get the word out even further, we are going to have a Facebook membership drive. Currently, Free Greene County’s page has 166 likes, let’s try to break 200 by next week. Share this page, its posts and let’s tell people that we are ready to empower our local businesses and cultivate positive growth for our community, it’s time.
End Prohibition. Free Greene County. Vote Wet.
Great news to start the week out with, so far we have completed around 20 petitions. Each sheet has 14 signature lines, so an unofficial count puts Free Greene County at nearly 300 signatures in less than a week. We appreciate volunteers helping get the word out and getting signatures.
If you know of a business that would like to host a petition call 601.467.9571 or email freegreenecounty@gmail.com.
End Prohibition. Free Greene County. Vote Wet.
. . .
The law requires a minimum of 1,500 verified signatures of county voters for the issue to be put on the ballot. The county’s circuit clerk will verify the signatures.
The first signature on the petition to end Prohibition in Greene County came from Mrs. Perlena Havard of Leakesville.
Mrs. Havard is a lifelong resident of the county and made a mark on generations through the kindergarten she operated for many years. She stated she wanted to be the first person to sign the petition since she felt that ending the dry law would only benefit the county.
Mrs. Havard’s gesture lends a large vote of confidence in Free Greene County, and serves as a testament to the positive changes all generations of Greene Countians want to see made in their homeland.
WE HAVE PETITIONS READY!
At this meeting we will distribute petitions, discuss plans to raise awareness about our effort and strategies for getting signatures and solidifying support.
When: Thursday 6/14/12 @ 7 PM
Where: Former Pierce’s Meat Market, Leakesville.
About Free Greene County:
Free Greene County is an organization seeking to help Greene County realize its full potential as a place to live, work and play. By raising support for allowing sales of alcohol within the county, we hope to give Greene County another tool to increase the quality of life by attracting new business, allowing current businesses to compete with other areas, increasing tax revenue and increase individual freedom and choice by repealing the laws which criminalize a person’s private behavior.
Free Greene County has organized to try to legalize alcohol sales in Greene County, MS.
Free Greene County is made up of concerned citizens who want to make Greene County a great place to live, work and play.
Free Greene County is an organization seeking to help Greene County realize its full potential as a place to live, work and play. By raising support for allowing sales of alcohol within the county, we hope to give Greene County another tool to increase the quality of life by attracting new business, allowing current businesses to compete with other areas, increasing tax revenue and increase individual freedom and choice by repealing the laws which criminalize a person’s private behavior.
Businesses in Greene County already are at a disadvantage to nearby towns with big box retail stores. By allowing businesses to sell and/or serve alcohol, it will give people yet another reason to shop locally. Also, many restaurants subsidize their food sales with alcohol beverages, by going wet it will allow establishments that may have overlooked the county before to locate in Greene County.
Tax revenues have been on a downward decline for the past few years. With projected growth for the state to be slow over the next decade, it makes sense to add another revenue generating measure to ensure cuts to schools and government services, along with tax increases, do not happen.
Lastly, for those individuals of age who choose to consume alcoholic beverages it is their choice to do so. By continuing to keep the possession of alcohol illegal in Greene County, it criminalizes a person’s behavior and needlessly takes away law enforcement’s attention from actual criminal matters, while wasting tax dollars and burdening the court system. While we respect the choice of an individual who does not consume alcohol, the choice of individuals that do must be respected as well.
