Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church
Encyclopedia
The Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church is a mansion
of Rastafari movement which flourished in the 1970s in Jamaica and was incorporated in Florida
in 1975. Members of movement say it is based on the teachings of Marcus Garvey
and that they use cannabis
as the Rastafari sacrament
.
The group was accused, tried and convicted of smuggling massive amounts of potent cannabis from Jamaica
to Miami in actions that kept the Jamaican economy afloat that decade. The Prime Minister at the time Edward Seaga
, when he came to the U.S. said in an interview "It's just a little Sensimilla that it keep the country going right now". That was the Coptics. The Coptics published a free newspaper promoting Garveyism and the decriminalization of marijuana. They were also featured on a sensational episode of 60 Minutes
on October 28, 1979. The group's leader was Thomas Reilly, also known as Brother Louv. In 1986 the organization participated in the Drug Enforcement Administration
's hearings on cannabis rescheduling in the United States
.
On August 8, 1994 Jim Tranmer, a former member of the group, wrote a letter to Carl E. Olsen while meditating on his 35-year prison sentence and his departure from the EZCC's "malicious hierarchy".
The EZCC is in no way associated with the Coptic Orthodox Church or the Coptic Catholic Church
, both based in Egypt
. The Coptic Orthodox Church also has an Ethiopian sister church which is also unrelated.
The Zion Coptic Church was featured in the feature documentary Square Grouper (2011 - Director: Billy Corben; 100 minutes running time) and the first section of this documentary concerns them and shows many interviews with former members of this group.
Mansions of Rastafari
Mansions of Rastafari are branches of the Rastafari movement. Mansions include the Bobo Shanti, the Niyabinghi, the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and others. The term is taken from the Biblical verse in John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many mansions."-Bobo Shanti:Prince Emanuel Charles Edwards...
of Rastafari movement which flourished in the 1970s in Jamaica and was incorporated in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1975. Members of movement say it is based on the teachings of Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., ONH was a Jamaican publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League...
and that they use cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
as the Rastafari sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
.
The group was accused, tried and convicted of smuggling massive amounts of potent cannabis from Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
to Miami in actions that kept the Jamaican economy afloat that decade. The Prime Minister at the time Edward Seaga
Edward Seaga
Edward Philip George Seaga ON PC was the fifth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1980 to 1989 and Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party from 1974 to 2005. He served as leader of the opposition from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1989 until January 2005...
, when he came to the U.S. said in an interview "It's just a little Sensimilla that it keep the country going right now". That was the Coptics. The Coptics published a free newspaper promoting Garveyism and the decriminalization of marijuana. They were also featured on a sensational episode of 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
on October 28, 1979. The group's leader was Thomas Reilly, also known as Brother Louv. In 1986 the organization participated in the Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
's hearings on cannabis rescheduling in the United States
Cannabis rescheduling in the United States
In the United States, all preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes are currently classified under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the most tightly restricted category reserved for drugs which have "no currently accepted...
.
On August 8, 1994 Jim Tranmer, a former member of the group, wrote a letter to Carl E. Olsen while meditating on his 35-year prison sentence and his departure from the EZCC's "malicious hierarchy".
The EZCC is in no way associated with the Coptic Orthodox Church or the Coptic Catholic Church
Coptic Catholic Church
The Coptic Catholic Church is an Alexandrian Rite particular Church in full communion with the Pope of Rome. Historically, Coptic Catholics represent a schism from the Coptic Orthodox Church, leaving that church in order to come into full communion with the Bishop of Rome.The current Coptic...
, both based in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The Coptic Orthodox Church also has an Ethiopian sister church which is also unrelated.
The Zion Coptic Church was featured in the feature documentary Square Grouper (2011 - Director: Billy Corben; 100 minutes running time) and the first section of this documentary concerns them and shows many interviews with former members of this group.