Peter McWilliams, you will not be forgotten.

Some of us knew your personal warmth and love. Many of us knew you through your best-selling books, or your work for personal freedom. Millions more will feel your impact.

You died a casualty in the war on drugs. The battle was over medical marijuana. Voters in your own home state of California agreed with you that marijuana should be legal for medical purposes. Proposition 215 passed overwhelmingly in 1996, but the federal drug warriors ignored the voters, and your activism made you a target. For helping a friend produce medical marijuana, you were charged as a drug kingpin in federal court.

In the end, you were facing five years in prison, you were bankrupt from legal battles, unable to work, and forbidden to use the medical marijuana you yourself needed to keep down the medication for your AIDS and AIDS-related cancer.

You were awaiting the final sentence from the judge. But you could not wait very long. You could not keep down your medication.

• Rev. Lynnette Shaw -- In April 1996 Peter came to the CBC LA and I signed him up. He gave me a smile and his books.
• Bill Bridges of High Times Magazine -- May Peter be an example for us all to live life to its fullest and without compromise.
• Rick Tompkins -- Arizona. Peter is a martyr to human liberty, and his murderers stand indicted by all who know them.
• James W. Lark, III -- Thanks for all you gave us.
• Dawn Marie Merrill -- My friend Kendon died of AIDS in 1998 and he had to get marijuana illegally. No day but today.
• Mike Hihn - Seattle, WA -- Your beacon still shines brightly, Peter, showing us the way. Peace and love.
• Dave Deretchin -- "May he rest in peace...he saw precious little of it while he was alive"
• Doug Scribner -- We will carry on your vision.
• William Bell -- Irondale Alabama
• anonymous -- california
• Lucy Webb -- Ventura Peter showed us the way to freedom. God bless him.
• Bruce Stephenson -- I knew Peter since 1997, and considered him a friend. I was sad to see him murdered by Government.
• anonymous -- Free at last... Free at last.. Thank God almighty he is Free at last...
• jim mulhearn -- we are not free - we must work for justice
• Ty Matthews -- TX - If the gov't is fighting for good, I'm glad I'm evil. You earned your rest, brother. ENJOY!
• John A. Bennett, D.O. -- Sequim, Washington
• joel -- Such a pity...The governments of today have *NO* clue. You will be remembered!
• Frank s., New Mexico -- Martyred in the modern Salem Witch Trials 2000. Valiant effort, brave warrior. Peace Peter
• Bob McGee, Placerville, CA -- No, I did not know Peter, or of him, until he died. But his story has touched me.
• andrew garret -- Peter, you will not be forgotten
• Gerald Hannafin -- Thank you, Peter, wherever you are...
• Mitchell R. Olinger -- Liberty comes at a cost....I am sorry that it was so dear for you. Hartsville SC
• John T. Geltemeyer -- Thank you Peter.
• David E. Fawcett Sr. -- Ontario, CA.
• Bruce Newman, Redmond, Washington -- Thank you, Peter. We continue your fight.
• Ronald G Wittig -- his door is doused and another freedomfighter has sacraficed his life, his fortune and his sacred honor for the cause of Liberty. Thank You, Ron
• Ronald G Wittig -- As the sun sets and darkness falls upon the path to Peters house the light of liberty above
• Shawn Patrick House, Pennsylvania -- It was an honor to meet you. As we fight for liberty you shall not be forgotten.
• William Appel -- Portland, Or - Freedom and peace
• Glen Goodman -- Philadelphia, PA - Libertarian Activist
• anonymous -- I am so sorry. You raised a wonderful man
• M. Lipshutz -- Goodbye, Peter! Your death was not in vain. Some day we will end the insane WOD!
• Bruce Brown -- Many freedom fighters fall. We owe what we have left to those who have fallen before us.
• Mark Laythorpe -- Bonsall, California
• Debbie K. -- Hartly, DE
• Noelle Stettner -- Peter, when you see Mr. Jefferson, tell him you left behind others who continue to fight for liberty
• G. Alan Robison -- Drug Policy Forum of Texas / Houston, TX
• Allan Erickson -- Eugene, OR -- Bless you Peter.
• Scott B. -- Excellent writer, unparalleled advocate for liberty.
• Tim Huwe -- Rockford, IL
• Angela -- Florida
• Van Estes -- Hendersonville NC - He left as a hero. We will never forget!
• Barbara Howe -- Oxford, NC - Peter's wit and humor and courage brightened our world.. I will miss him.
• Mario Borsellino - Cranford, NJ -- PEACE!
• Mike Dugger -- In memory of your courage and sacrifice for a cause you knew was just. Phoenix, Arizona
• Tim Meehan -- Toronto, ON Canada -- They can never kill your spirit.
• Frida Weisman -- thanks for standing up. Seattle
• Carmela Hamilton -- Port Huron, MI
• Duane Sturges -- In memory of Duane, died May 1, 2000, Washinton
• Jinxer -- SMASH THE WOD!
• Don Beck --
• J.W. Biebesheimer Jr. -- May the eye of justice never fail to see the evil that caused your demise. Wisconsin.
• Ernest Lewis -- heroes do make a difference...Olympia WA
• The Byrd Family -- We lost another brave friend and a hero to the WOD. Stop this madness ! The people have VOTED!
• Bob Newland -- http://www.sodaknorml.org/. Peter's my hero.
• Carrie -- Denver, Colo....I was greatly saddened when I heard of his passing. It is a loss to the world.
• Daniel Wulsch -- South Carolina
• Lois Kaneshiki -- Blair Township, Pa
• Kevin O'Reilly -- Chicago
• Schantz Editor LewisNews.com -- If we had more men like him we wouldn’t be in this mess now. Schantz
• Neal Whitman -- Columbus, OH
• Shannon -- Luoisville, KY -- What more will it take to wake us up? Where is the critical mass? Rise up!
• Michael T. Sweger, Fort Meade, Maryland -- Let us never forget Peter's inspiring fight! "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God" - Jefferson
• Douglas Caddy -- We must continue his fight for individual liberty.
• Rick D. Day -- Dallas, TX. To my mentor, my guide, my confirmation that positive forces still existed, adieu amigo
• Nicholas Weininger -- Roseville, MN. We will not forget-- we will fight on for Liberty!
• Doris Nugent -- St. Louis, MO. When will the American people wake up?
• Frank Nugent -- Gibralter, Europe: Few of us deserve a man of such courage. Let us hope we deserve it.
• Gary M. Sage / Keyport, New Jersey -- Peter's boundless compassion, and dedication to liberty is an inspiration to us all. Adieu, Brother.
• Roy Lieberman -- Your fight and legacy for freedom & book on the evils of 'consensual crimes' will NOT be forgotten.
• Fran Van Cleave -- Bedford, IN -- Thank you for fighting.
• Gene Donohue --
• David Foley, Green Bay, WI -- a true hero of our time... willing to give life to this great cause... Americans should weep
• Lloyd Sloan (St. Louis, Missouri) -- We shall remember.
• Elizabeth C. Brierly, California -- Thank you for the comfort of "How to Survive the..." and for your inspiration to weary libertarians.
• C. D. Tavares -- God and history will adjudge our federal criminals responsible even if contemporary man cannot.
• Mike Smith -- Delaware
• Howard A. Pearce -- LP of Massachusetts
• Bud Ruehle -- Pennsylvania
• Mary Lou Seymour -- In memoriam...McWilliams, Waco, Weaver...who among us will be next? How long will the killing go on.
• George Phillies -- Peter, and thousands of others, died so evil men can keep political power. We shall all remember.
• Carl Schoen -- Eau Claire, Wisconsin
• Arnold R Souba -- My wife and I met Peter in 1998. What a wonderful person. We are determined that his sacrifice will
• Kevin Parker -- Austin, TX. I followed Mr. McWilliams' inspiring battles in the news. I will not forget him.
• Jo-D Harrison Dunbar -- Arroyo Grande, CA: i'm writing one letter per week to todd in honor of peter!
• David Hunsberger -- Peter, a martyr whom I will not forget
• Paul L. Studier -- Lake Forest, CA
• Tom Brennan -- Philadelphia, Peter's life and death WILL be remembered.
• Jeff James -- Pennsylvania
• Eric Dubiel -- Illinois, I met Peter @ the '98 LP Convention and we owe him much for his personal sacrifices.
• Matthew Zenthoefer -- Colorado
• Mark A. Siefert -- May we always remember this friend of liberty,
• David Wilson -- Vermont
• Chuck Karczag -- West Orange, NJ
• Vicki Whittenkraus -- Ashby, MA
• Ron Crickenberger -- Thank you Peter, for all you did for Liberty. And wherever you are, "Enjoy."
• Ted Whittenkraus, Wells Maine -- We have another pair of giants' shoulders for others to stand on.
• Ted Whitten -- Tucson, AZ
• Chris Whitten -- Chicago, IL
• Buck -- A Martyr for Personal Freedom cloaked in Compassion (Martyrs live forever) fools move by evil Feds
• Ray Simon -- Peter, if you can read these comments from some other world or dimension of awareness -- Enjoy!
• anonymous -- the voters of california will be vindicated by your courage
• Lucy Webb -- Ventura Ca. Peter showed us the way to freedom God bless him
• Hal Chiprin -- From VENTURA LP. we all lost a great hero. We must unite and demonstrate all over the State
• anonymous -- Visit Croatian news group hr.alt.drugs (on dejanews.com)
• Fred Meyer -- k.tram@olywa.net
• Michael Hess, BBSNews -- Peter's death is appalling evidence that the War on Some Drugs is corrupt. Stop the War!
• a fellow smoker -- get it legal
• Randy Hall (TalkLiberty.com) -- Sorry ya had to be a martyr for liberty, you chose the path less traveled. It has made a differance!
• Lee Berger -- Portland, OR - the best part of the drug war is gonna be the war crimes tribunals.
• Jess/FatFreddy Williams -- I am in Tacoma WA. I have Thlked to Peter a Lot and he was a Great person. He will be missed a lot.
• Scott Bledsoe -- Jacksonville, Florida, We love you peter........
• Michael Scarazzo -- Harrisburg, PA
• Kyle Varner -- Thank you for all that you did in the quest for Liberty...It will not be forgotten. Spokane, Wa
• Bill Thornton -- e-mail x@he.net -- Remember, "Public wrongs are but popular rights in embryo," says Lord Darling
• Marsha Enright -- Chicago, IL
• Stephen Young -- Peter will be missed terribly, but his the legacy of his work will live on.
• anonymous -- Phoenix AZ. Peter, you were the victim of some awful people. Let's hope you're one of the last.
• Michael Lazin -- In a democracy the government is under the jurisdiction of its citizens.
• Theodore Dachenhausen III -- He was a real victim of the war on drugs. Why can't we try the feds and the judge as war criminals?
• Adrian Augustine -- DeForest, WI
• Matt Bryant -- Peter may have fell, but he took a brick of the WOD wall with him. Thanks from Pelion SC, C.S.A
• Jon L. Driver -- Madison, Wisconsin. Peter was a great man & will be missed.
• Carolinnus -- Though the man is gone, the fight will continue in his memory. NC
• David Roscoe -- Chelmsford MA
• James Madison -- Libertarian Party. I met Peter at our 1998 convention. He was a truly great man.
• Tom O'Connell -- Peter: Your martyrdom is one of the drug war's greatest mistakes; we'll make them pay.
• Scott Bieser -- Riverside, California -- I never met Peter, but loved his writing. I won't forget.
• Donald E. Kurtti Jr. and Family -- Herman, Nebraska. Gone is another courageous martyr for liberty.
• Scott B. -- Excellent writer, unparalleled advocate for individual liberty.
• Allan Erickson -- ...and duct tape is way cheaper...
• Emily Bristor -- Scottsdale, AZ
• Karen Greenip -- Chicago-
• Cathey Butts -- Peter's book changed my entire perspective on governmental intrusion in our lives! Portland ME
• Angelyn in Virginia -- Bless you & your effort. May we all own our voices and strive to use them!
• Timothy Moir -- I saw Peter McWilliams speak in 1998, I then bought and read his book. A great loss.
• Tom Howe -- NC - Peter was a kind and gentle man. He was a hero, killed in a war of authority against people.
• Attorney Don Wirtshafter -- Ohio Hempery - 1-800-BUY-HEMP Athens, OH
• Jeannine Branson -- No matter what, you made a difference!!
• George Alan Esworthy -- NC, USA - I am sad and angry. Peter, we will carry on. Thanks.
• Hal Noyes -- Durham, NC
• Scott Tillinghast - Houston, TX -- I think of Ain't Nobody's Business as a bible on the issue of consensual crimes.
• Mr. Jean Bernard Carbonneau -- I loved "Ain't Nobody's Business if you Do."
• Kathy Overhauser -- Green Cross Patient, Washington State
• anonimous --
• Kim Hanna, Boston, MA -- Glad you were on our side Peter. Rest in peace and know that one green day we'll be free.
• Bobbie Brien...WISCONSIN-NORML -- Peter's books were inspiring. He died a martyr for the medicinal marijuana cause
• Arthur Livermore -- Arch Cape, Oregon
• Douglas Witt EKCLP -- THE PAYBACK IS COMING
• Jason Bontrager -- Land of the Free?
• Bill Allyn -- WA State.
• a well wisher -- your contribution was not wasted-it IS working and marijuans will be legal in our lifetime.
• Curt Wagoner -- The Libertarian Party of Deschutes County Oregon will miss our friend Peter Mc Williams.
• Glen Etzkorn -- Guthrie, MN -- may the gods judge the government as known killers of the innocent
• Shannon -- Let not Peter's sacrifices have been in vain, stand up and avenge this valliant warrior for Truth.
• Ken Evans -- Kennett Square, PA - End the insane, un-Constitutional War on The American People disguised as a WOD
• Chuck Beyer ( http://www.bcmagic.com ) Canada -- We will take it from here - We could not have done it without you
• James Hammett -- A great American philosopher
• Dan Fitzgerald -- I told dozens of my friends, "you would thank me if I introduced you to this man", months ago.
• Gloria Jackson-Nefertiti -- Seattle, WA - I'm so sorry I never got to meet you.
• Warren Tilson -- Chico Ca. They killed you but they cannot make me forget you or your accomplishments.
• Susan W. Wells -- What we need in this country are Nuremberg-like trials for people like Judge George King.
• Kris Cudnohoski -- Green Bay, WI
• Mark Testagrossa -- Thanks for your inspiration and kindness. You will not be forgotten.
• W. Scott Meeks -- Arlington, MA -- I wish I could have met you in person. Remember Peter McWilliams!
• Pete Skach -- Illinois
• Richard Friend -- Port Huron, MI
• Kent Van Cleave -- Bedford, IN -- The last full measure of devotion....
• Jim Mattson -- Washington DC
• Kathy L. Harrer -- Phoenix, AZ -- Freedom!
• J. Gravelle --
• Ward Clark -- Townsend, MA
• Craig J. Mathias -- Chairman, Board of Selectmen, Town of Ashland, Massachusetts
• Danny Fain -- Boston, MA - Peter inspired and touched me at the '98 Libertarian National Convention. Thank you!
• Boris A. Kupershmidt -- Tyrannies come and go, but the record of valor endures forever.
• Randal A. Anderson III -- Minnesota, let's continue his struggle
• Gene Woltz -- Tempe, AZ
• Joel Johnson -- Minnesota
• John Markley -- Oak Lawn, Illinois
• Mark Heil -- Harrison Twp., Michigan
• Milton C. DeGeorge Jr. -- Madison, WI
• Chris Azzaro -- North Las Vegas, NV
• Gary Storck - Madison, WI -- Peter left big shoes to fill. We must all help fill that void, and make sure this madness stops.
• Rick Root -- Southern California - Peter'd generosity and compassion will live forever.
• Bill Hajdu -- Laguna Beach, CA
• Dean Chambers -- New England -- Peter's writings will live on, and his and advocacy of freedom will be remembered.
• Aaron Biterman -- Brookfield, WI -- As a fellow Libertarian, I thank you for your endless promotion of justice.
• Andrew L Sulllivan, NE LP chair -- Just as a rock dropped in a pond sends ripples, so too will your influence.
• Thomas L. Knapp -- Peter served justice -- and we will carry on, remembering him as a friend and example.
• Chuck Karczag -- West Orange, NJ
• Chris Hawley -- You were a friend and a personal hero to me, Peter. Sometime soon I'll come up and we'll meet again.
• Glen Whitman -- New York City
• Megan McClellan -- Chicago

ForAHero.com is an informal effort coordinated by friends and fans of Peter McWilliams along with a group of sponsor organizations. Please join us. Click here for easy ways you can help. To get occasional updates on our progress, enter your e-mail address here: