You've heard me rant before about the Right to Peaceably Assemble and this importance of this right in any kind of free society.

Well, that right is coming under attack again. This time in the name of the war on drugs. Take a look at: S 2633 the "Reducing America's Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act of 2002".

There are some petitions (C.A.R.A. - Citizens Against the R.A.V.E. Act and A.A.R.A. - Americans Against the R.A.V.E. Act) and there will be a huge nation-wide demonstration (NY, LA, DC) on demonstrations on September 6, 2002.

The R.A.V.E. Act was introduced in the Senate on June 18th and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee a week later, without a public hearing or recorded vote. It has been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar and could come up for a full Senate vote in September. A number of organizations including civil liberties groups, business associations, and groups associated with the rave community, are working to defeat the RAVE Act or amend it to better protect innocent business owners, free speech, and public health. Tens of thousands of voters have signed petitions, and faxed or called their Senators to oppose this Act. Protests in opposition to the RAVE Act will be held simultaneously in cities around the country, including a rave and protest on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol on September 6th.

Here's the full text in case the link goes bad:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2002/08/30/083247.php#20020830083247

"For Immediate Release:
August 28, 2002

Music Community Unites
To Fight Unconstitutional R.A.V.E. Act:
Protests Scheduled for LA, NYC and DC on
September 6th

Los Angeles, CA - A coalition of members of the music community have come
together to protest the unconstitutional R.A.V.E act now being considered
by
the US Senate. The R.A.V.E. (Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy)
Act, bill number S.2633 would expand the federal "crackhouse" statute.
Water
Bottles, Glowsticks and chill out rooms could be classified as "drug
promotion." Business people, promoters, venue owners and even homeowners
will be liable for any drugs used on their premises.

Clearly such a sweeping change in the law requires a response. The Los
Angeles protest will take place September 6th from 3pm - 8pm on the
Northwest Lawn of the Westwood Federal Building at 11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Numerous luminaries of the LA and international DJ community including Doc
Martin, Richard Humpty Vission, Garth Trinidad, Colette, Curious, Daniel,
Kid Dragon, Freddy B and others will DJ. The event has been organized
through a coalition of organizations in LA's world renown electronic music
community including: Hi-Roller, Rock The Vote, Green Galactic, EM:DEF, V
Squared Labs, Project Sweatshop, PAS, WAX, Sound Lessons, Insomnia, Good
Stuff, Junglist Platoon, B3 Cande, eventvisuals.com, and Solid.

The R.A.V.E. Act was introduced in the Senate on June 18th and passed the
Senate Judiciary Committee a week later, without a public hearing or
recorded vote. It has been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar and
could come up for a full Senate vote in September. A number of
organizations
including civil liberties groups, business associations, and groups
associated with the rave community, are working to defeat the RAVE Act or
amend it to better protect innocent business owners, free speech, and
public
health. Tens of thousands of voters have signed petitions, and faxed or
called their Senators to oppose this Act. Protests in opposition to the
RAVE
Act will be held simultaneously in cities around the country, including a
rave and protest on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol on September 6th.

Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) is the primary sponsor of the bill, but it is
also being co-sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Charles Grassley
(R-IA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT). The R.A.V.E. Act
expands the federal "crack house statute" to make it easier for the federal
government to fine or imprison businessmen up to 20 years in federal prison
if they fail to prevent customers or tenants from selling or using drugs on
their premises or at their events. The RAVE Act increases the civil and
criminal liability that business owners and event promoters could face if
customers commit drug offenses on their property.

The RAVE Act is not just about Ecstasy and Raves. While proponents of the
RAVE Act are trying to target the electronic music community, the RAVE Act
would allow federal prosecutors to target other events, such as Rock or Hip
Hop concerts, country music events, and world music festivals. It could
apply to hotel and motel owners, cruise ship operators, stadium owners,
landlords, real estate managers, and event promoters. The bill is so
broadly
written that individuals could potentially face 20-year sentences for using
drugs at home. Anyone who used drugs in their own home or threw an event
(such as a party or barbecue) in which one or more of their guests used
drugs could potentially face a $500,000 fine and up to twenty years in
federal prison. If the offense occurred in a hotel room or on a cruise
ship,
the owner of the property could also be potentially liable.

For those unable to attend the protest in person we strongly recommend
writing (preferable), faxing or calling your Senator on September 6th. A
fax form, sample letter and senator info is available at:
http://www.emdef.org/s2633/. A link to the petition, the Drug Policy
Alliance's analysis of the bill along with the full text of the bill and
the
introductory statements for the bill from the Congressional Record are also
available at that link.

# # #

For more information please contact Susan Mainzer at Green Galactic,
323-466-5141 or susan@greengalactic.com"