Rave Act passed, House snuck it in w/ Amber Alert

[AgentDoubleA]

My boy just called me (steaming) saying that the House passed the Rave Act. He says that even though alot of us opposed it they got sneaky and attached the Act with the Amber Alert. Can anyone confirm this?

[SHEIK YERBOUTI]

This is all I got. A friend sent these to me:

http://www.stoptheraveact.com/

http://stoptheraveact.com/nobackdoor

http://emdef.org/s226/action/nobackdoor

I hope these help.

[ April 11, 2003, 03:07 PM: Message edited by: toomuchtv ]

[Raven Fox]

It's true.

Late on Thursday, April 10, 2003, the Senate and House the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (formerly known as the RAVE Act) added as an attachment to the Amber Alert Bill (a child abduction bill). The bill is likely to be signed into law by the President in the next few weeks.


Dayum... Ecstasy and that GHB sh*t was the final straw. What happened to just smoking some herb.

[ April 11, 2003, 03:11 PM: Message edited by: Raven Fox ]

[Jamie 3:26]

Aint that a bitch???I had been getting peeps up on this.The goverment is shady.With all of the focus on the war,there's no telling what other laws and changes have happened without public awareness.

This is the nail in the coffin.

[formerly known as kenspank]

graemlins/mecry.gif
kenspank is deeply saddened by this turn of events.

[SHEIK YERBOUTI]

I wonder how many more 'stealth' laws are coming down the pike? Peeps knew about it, but once again, they snuck the ill shit through the back door.

I agree with jamie 3:26. Nail in the coffin...

[ April 11, 2003, 03:25 PM: Message edited by: toomuchtv ]

[Raven Fox]

The Rave Act has the force to stop licensed and law-abiding business owners from hosting events out of fear of massive fines and prison sentences. It would amend the federal "crack house law" to make it easier for federal prosecutors to fine and imprison business owners that fail to stop drug offenses from occurring. Businessmen and women could be prosecuted even if they were not involved in drugs - and even if they took steps to stop drug use on their property. Although proponents of the bill are seeking to target raves (and DJs, nightclub owners, and promoters have the most to fear), the law would apply to any business owner, including bar owners, motel owners, concert promoters, and cruise ship owners. Because of its broad language, the proposed law would even potentially subject people to twenty years in federal prison if guests smoked marijuana at their party or barbecue.

The RAVE Act will also stifle musical expression and is a threat to free speech and the right to dance. It is clearly an assault on raves and electronic music. If the bill becomes law, property owners may be too afraid to rent or lease their property to groups holding all-night dance parties, rock or Hip-Hop concerts, hemp festivals or any other event rightly or wrongly perceived as attracting drug users.

This will drive these gatherings further underground and away from public health and safety regulations. Prosecutors are already insinuating that selling bottled water and offering "cool off" rooms is proof that owners and promoters know drug use is occurring at their events and if the Act becomes law business owners may be too afraid to implement any harm-reduction measures, and the safety of our nation's young people will suffer.

[B*Strong]

Woah....crazy timing. As I was reading this post I got this email:

Dear Members, Subscribers and Friends,

I do not normally use our alert channel to send a personal message. However, I wanted to let you know that the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (also called the "RAVE Act"), which was attached to the AMBER Alert bill, passed both the House and Senate late yesterday (April 10).

The RAVE Act threatens free speech and musical expression while placing at risk any hotel/motel owner, concert promoter, event organizer, nightclub owner or arena/stadium owner for the drug violations of 3rd parties - real or alleged - even if the event promoter and/or property owner made a good-faith effort to keep their event drug-free. It applies not just to electronic-music parties, but to any type of public gathering, including theatrical productions, rock concerts, DJ nights at local bars, and potentially
even political rallies. It gives heightened powers and discretion to prosecutors, who may use it to target events they personally don't like - such as Hip-Hop events and gay and lesbian fundraisers.

Sadly, the RAVE Act was added to the AMBER Alert bill conference report at the very last minute by Senator Biden (D-DE), its original sponsor. The AMBER Alert bill creates a system for responding to child abduction. It has nothing to do with drug policy. The RAVE Act had not passed even a single committee in the House or Senate this year. One senator's pet issue made a mockery of the Democratic process - becoming law without any public hearing or opportunity for input whatsoever.

You should be aware that your letters and faxes clearly had an effect. (FYI - you sent Congress 13,000 faxes this week alone!!) For example, the word "rave" was removed from the version of the bill that passed. Eliminating such blatant discrimination is a victory for our continued freedom of speech. Also, the original bill
suggested that prosecutors should view the sale of water and the presence of glowsticks or massage oil as evidence of drug use. These
ludicrous "findings" were completely removed thanks to you.

President Bush will sign this child abduction bill, which means the RAVE Act will become law as well. We will be working with the legislators who opposed this provision - such as Senators Durbin, Kennedy and Leahy and Representatives Conyers and Scott - for its repeal. In the meantime, however, it is up to all of us to be the watchdogs of its enforcement.

Attorney General John Ashcroft will have to make decisions about its enforcement priority among the many public safety issues the Department of Justice handles. He must be held responsible when he implements this scheme. We want him to know that he is not free to shut down our dance clubs, our festivals and our freedoms. We will
be watching the activities of law enforcement and prosecutors, and we will act when our rights are violated. You can help us by faxing Attorney General Ashcroft here.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=1581

We thank our many partners in this effort for your hard work: EM:DEF, ROAR, Buzzlife Productions, Davey D., electronic dance and music
organizations throughout the U.S., club owners, hotel organizations, beverage and licensing groups, the ACLU and many, many others. But
most of all, I want to say thank you personally to our members and supporters.

You truly deserve credit for reacting so quickly and so forcefully. It has really been amazing. When Bill McColl, our Director of
National Affairs, told me about this issue last June he said that he thought the RAVE Act would pass in about 2 weeks. You proved us wrong. It took 10 months, a change in control of the Senate, backroom maneuverings and substantial changes to the bill. I'm proud of the hard work of our members, friends and our coalition.
Rest assured we will continue to work together to mobilize opposition and advocate to fix this dangerous law.

Sincerely,


Ethan Nadelmann
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance

[drilla]

damn ravers!

[Raven Fox]

I want to shoot somebody. AR15firing.gif CONGRESS

[SHEIK YERBOUTI]

Question: For example, What about the Deadheads/Phish fans? Would that affect someone smoking a joint at a Blue Oyster Cult show? Maybe instead of leaving this in the hands of "Ravers", there needs to be a broad spectrum of support for making sure this bill doesn't get signed into law.

I'm simply trying to stress that it will affect more than just "ravers". I wonder how many concerts Biden went to as a kid?

[ April 11, 2003, 04:16 PM: Message edited by: toomuchtv ]

[Raven Fox]

Originally posted by toomuchtv:
Question: For example, What about the Deadheads/Phish fans? Would that affect someone smoking a joint at a Blue Oyster Cult show? Maybe instead of leaving this in the hands of "Ravers", there needs to be a broad spectrum of support for making sure this bill doesn't get signed into law.

I'm simply trying to stress that it will affect more than just "ravers". I wonder how many concerts Biden went to as a kid? This IS across the board. The fines are up to $250,000 and/or factored on the profits from the event. And this is on the venue owners - plus everybody involved in organizing the event, including the talent, DJs, what have you.
WTF - this is NOT America!!!!!

[ April 11, 2003, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: Raven Fox ]

[AgentDoubleA]

Thanks for the confirmations everybody. Looks like I won't be having anymore sets in my basement anymore (fines are up to $250,000 ). :(

[Gojay]

They might as well just rip up the constitution up right now!


I mean really, is it worth anything these days?!?

Another thing that kills me,is that my taxes are going into enforcing this BS! AR15firing.gif

[ April 11, 2003, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: Gojay ]

[Raven Fox]

Originally posted by AgentDoubleA:
Thanks for the confirmations everybody. Looks like I won't be having anymore sets in my basement anymore (fines are up to $250,000 ). :( This is a further example of needing to take it back underground anyway.

DAYUM this hurts!!!

[Raven Fox]

You can't even smoke a damm cigarette anymore without worrying about getting a ticket... much less get your groove on without worrying about the possibility of getting arrested because you were involved with the party that got pinched for one infraction.

They can easily plant something if they don't like whats going on at any venue in the United States. Enough cause to padlock the place.

The end as we know it is near.

[SHEIK YERBOUTI]

I found another breakdown of the effects of the "rave" act:

Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) is at this very moment attempting to sneak the RAVE Act into conference committee on the National AMBER Alert Network Act of 2003 (S151). S151 is a popular bill about child abduction and has nothing to do with drug issues. S151 has already been passed by the Senate and House and is now in Conference. In contrast, the RAVE Act has not passed even one single committee this year. It did pass a committee last year, but was so controversial two Senators withdrew their sponsorship after the vote.

This means that if the RAVE Act passes the conference committee, it is likely to pass into law without ever having a hearing, a debate or a vote. Drug Policy Alliance has been told that Senator Biden has falsely told other conference committee members that the ACLU is no longer in opposition to the action and has told conferees that nightclub owners now support him (on the basis of one group that switched sides). If the act makes it into the conference language it is likely to become law. It must be stopped now.

PHONE YOUR SENATORS and Conference Committee Members (Background information below). DO IT NOW. If you do not respond to this alert, the controversial RAVE Act is likely to become law and it will be much harder to fix.

ACTIONS TO TAKE:

1. The following Members of Congress are on the conference committee. They need to hear from you IF AND ONLY IF you live in their district. Please be polite. Just tell them that you oppose the RAVE Act, that it is controversial and it should not be included in the conference language of S151. Don't stay on the phone long. Ask as many people as you can to call them.

HOUSE:
James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) - 202/225-5101
Howard Coble (R-NC) - 202/225-3065
Lamar Smith (R-TX) - 202/225-4236
Mark Green (R-WI)- 202/225-5665
Melissa Hart (R-PA)- 202/225-2565
John Conyers (D-MI) - 202/225-5126
Bobby Scott (D-VA) - - 202/225-8351

SENATE:
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) - 202/224-5251
Charles Grassley (R-IA) - 202/224-3744
Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - 202/224-4124
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) - 202/224-5972
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) - 202/224-4242
Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - 202/224-4543
Joseph Biden (D-DE) - 202/224-5042

2. Everyone in the U.S. - You have two Senators who can weigh in on this issue with the conferees. A list of your Senators by state can be found at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

Please call your Senators at the Capitol Switchboard at 202/224-3121 - please tell them that the RAVE Act is very controversial. Senator Biden is holding up the AMBER Act by placing controversial bill in conference. Urge them to oppose the RAVE Act by contacting the Senate conferees and asking them to leave it off the measure so that there will at least be a hearing on this issue.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Congress is considering two pieces of legislation that could effectively ban live music and dancing, while throwing innocent people like you in jail. If enacted, either bill could prevent you from hearing your favorite band or DJ live. Every musical style would be affected, including rock and roll, Hip Hop, country, and electronic music. The proposed laws could also shut down hemp festivals, circuit parties, and other events government officials don't like. Both bills would allow overzealous prosecutors to send innocent people to jail for the crimes of others.

The two bills are the RAVE Act (H.R. 718) and the CLEAN-UP Act (H.R. 834). Both could be passed this year without your help.

The RAVE Act was first introduced last year in the Senate by Senator Joe Biden (D-DE). A House version was introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX). Thanks to the support of thousands of voters like you, Drug Policy Alliance and a coalition of friends and activists around the country was able to stop both bills last year. Unfortunately, supporters of the RAVE Act are even more determined to pass it this year. Rep. Howard Coble

(R-NC) is sponsoring a new RAVE Act in the House. Additionally, Senator Biden has introduced a Senate version entitled the Illicit Drugs Anti-Proliferation Act.

If enacted, the RAVE Act would make it easier for the federal government to punish property owners for any drug offense that their customers commit - even if they work hard to stop such offenses. If enacted, nightclub and stadium owners would likely stop holding events - such as rock or Hip Hop concerts - in which even one person might use drugs. Because of its broad language, the proposed law would even potentially subject people to twenty years in federal prison if one or more of their guests smoked marijuana at their party or barbecue.

The CLEAN-UP Act was also first introduced last year, but it failed to make it out of committee. This year's bill has over 60 co-sponsors and could become law without your help. Sponsored by Rep. Doug Ose (R-CA), the Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, and Undermine Production (CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act is largely an innocuous bill that provides more money and training for the clean up of illegal methamphetamine lab. Hidden within the bill, however, is a draconian section that could make dancing and live music federal crimes.

Section 305 of the CLEAN-UP Act stipulates that:

`Whoever, for a commercial purpose, knowingly promotes any rave, dance, music, or other entertainment event, that takes place under circumstances where the promoter knows or reasonably ought to know that a controlled substance will be used or distributed in violation of Federal law or the law of the place where the event is held, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 9 years, or both.'

This provision will allow any concert promoter, event organizer, nightclub owner and arena or stadium owner to be fined and jailed, since a reasonable person would know some people use drugs at musical events.

Under both the RAVE Act and the CLEAN-UP Act, it doesn't matter if the event promoter and property owner try to prevent people from using drugs. Nor does it matter if the vast majority of people attending the event are law-abiding citizens that want to listen to music not do drugs. If enacted, either bill could be used to shut down raves, circuit parties, marijuana rallies, unpopular music concerts, and any other event federal officials don't like.

GODDAMNIT! When will the ****ing FASCISM stop???

[Raven Fox]

http://www.undergroundarts.org/raveactflyer2.gif

[Raven Fox]

RAVING LUNACY

We're at war. The people in charge of running the war say that we have to trust them: trust their integrity, and trust their judgment.

But how can we trust our government to spot terrorists when it thinks that glow sticks are items of "drug paraphernalia?"

This sounds like a joke, but it isn't. Last year, the Department of Justice and the DEA tried to prosecute concert promoters in New Orleans under the federal "crackhouse law." That law makes it a felony to maintain a building or facility for the purpose of drug consumption. Traditionally, the law has been applied to places that are, well, crack houses. But — calling glow sticks and bottled water "drug paraphernalia" — then-U.S. Attorney Eddie Jordan attempted to jail three New Orleans concert promoters by reasoning that (1) people come to raves; (2) people who come to raves sometimes use drugs; (3) concert promoters must know this (especially in light of the presence of "drug paraphernalia"); and so, (4) a rave must be an event that takes place "for the purpose of drug consumption" under the law.

The federal district court made short work of this claim, dismissing the charges and calling them a violation of the First Amendment. But that hasn't stopped our drug warriors.

Now Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., has introduced a bill (the "Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act of 2002," cutely called "the RAVE Act"), also sponsored by Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill. The bill would essentially write into the crackhouse statute the same approach already rejected by the district court in New Orleans. According to The Washington Post:

When he introduced the bill in June, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., said "most raves are havens for illicit drugs," and congressional findings submitted with the bill label as drug paraphernalia such rave mainstays as bottled water, "chill rooms" and glow sticks.

My three-year-old nephew is fond of bottled water and glow sticks, and usually needs a "chill room." Presumably Biden regards him as a dangerous criminal.

The RAVE Act should, all by itself, serve to explode Democratic claims that it's only the Republicans who pose a danger to civil liberties: nothing in the Bush administration's anti-terror plans would criminalize bottled water. Unfortunately, the RAVE Act (what is it with these cutesy acronyms, anyway?) also suggests that there's a lot of raving going on in Washington — raving lunacy.

The real story is that federal law enforcement efforts against ecstasy have proved impotent. Frustrated by this failure, they've targeted electronic music concerts or clubs ("raves") not because they're especially important targets (they're not) but because they're easy, and public, targets.

Unable to endure the continuing evidence of drug-war failure, the drug warriors are lashing out, hoping that the ignorant will be convinced that they're earning their pay. Congress is playing along because, basically, Congress isn't up to the job of riding herd on the massive drug-war bureaucracy.

The drug war has been a massive failure: a waste of money, of lives and of time. It's also been accompanied by extensive inroads on traditional American freedoms: property forfeitures, "no-knock" searches, expanded wiretap authority, and the destruction of financial privacy, to name just a few.

These are inroads that have served the agendas of bureaucrats but that haven't done anything to solve the problem that was claimed as their justification. And the drug war's combination of intrusiveness, corruption and ineptitude calls into question the government's ability to carry out the war on terrorism.

Will the drug war serve as a model for the war on terrorism? Some within the federal bureaucracy seem to think it should, and it's easy to understand why: The drug war may have been a disaster for America, but it has been a three-decade gravy train for bureaucrats. And if Congress can't ride herd on the drug war bureaucracy, it probably won't be able to oversee the terror-war bureaucracy either.

Not being a bureaucrat, I think the drug war is a terrible model. In fact, I think it's an argument against creating a Homeland Security bureaucracy at all. If we can't trust the government to tell a glow stick from a hypodermic needle, then I don't think we can trust it to tell the difference between an American and a terrorist.

I'm willing to support an invasion of Iraq and of other enemy nations like Saudi Arabia or Syria. I'm not willing to support an approach that will turn the United States itself into an occupied country — something the drug war crowd has come a long way toward doing on its own.

Glenn Harlan Reynolds is a law professor at the University of Tennessee and publishes InstaPundit.Com. He is co-author, with Peter W. Morgan, of The Appearance of Impropriety: How the Ethics Wars Have Undermined American Government, Business, and Society (The Free Press, 1997).

[Raven Fox]

HERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO!

RAVE Act Passes – Tell Ashcroft Not to Abuse It (http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=1581)
Click above link above to generate the letter below to the Attorney Generals Office.

=========================================

April 11, 2003

Attorney General John Ashcroft
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20503

On April 10, 2003, Congress passed important legislation widely referred to as "The Child Abduction Protection Act of 2003." President Bush is likely to sign this legislation and make it law, therefore I am writing to voice some concerns I have about Section 609.

I urge you to work with Drug Policy Alliance and other concerned groups to fix the broad provisions of Section 609. In addition, I am requesting that you recommend to President Bush that substantive changes be made that uphold the original intent of the "crackhouse statute" and to provide "safe harbor" for innocent business owners. For more information about changes that could be made to improve the provisions of Section 609, I encourage you to contact William McColl or Bill Piper with the Drug Policy Alliance in Washington, DC at 202-216-0035.

Section 609, also referred to as the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003, is a controversial attachment to an unrelated bill. Section 609 broadly expands the federal "crackhouse statute" (21 U.S.C. 856), which prohibits opening or maintaining a building for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, or using a controlled substance. Instead of restricting the application of the "crackhouse statute" to ongoing, continuous drug operations, Section 609 expands the provisions making them applicable to temporary, one-time and outdoor events. Civil provisions have also been added which lower the burden of proof required to punish innocent business owners. This doesn't make sense. I urge you to ask President Bush to support the following changes:

Ø It should be made clear that "for the purpose of" applies to the business owners, not the drug offenders. The way it is worded now it can be interpreted to mean that "knowingly" applies to the owner (who knowingly opens a place) and "for the purpose of" to the offender (who uses the place to commit the offense.) Both should relate to the purposeful intent of the owner (i.e. someone opens a club for the specific purpose of selling drugs in it)

Ø "for the purpose" clauses should be modified to protect innocent business owners from being punished for the crimes of their customers. "Intentional" and/or "primary" should be added, so that it reads "for the intentional and primary purpose of."

Ø Remove the section allowing for civil charges. If prosecutors believe people should be prosecuted, it should be done criminally. Otherwise, there should be a provision that sets the standard of proof at "clear and convincing" instead of "preponderance."

Section 609 is a controversial piece of legislation that was railroaded through the Senate and House Conference Committee, without a hearing, public notice or a debate in Congress and attached to the Child Protection Act. It is a bad idea, and I urge you not to make it worse. Among the wide-ranging priorities the Department of Justice currently faces, rigorous enforcement of the provisions in Section 609 should be among your lowest priorities. Targeting, arresting, and prosecuting innocent business owners will not solve our national drug problems.

Sincerely,

Raven Fox

=================

Please take the time to do this!

[Mocambo]

So, I take it, the DEMF will be out this year?

[lyot]

Originally posted by Silhouette:
So, I take it, the DEMF will be out this year? why would that be ?

[Raven Fox]

Originally posted by Silhouette:
So, I take it, the DEMF will be out this year? The Motor City might set a good example for how successful electronic music festivals can be when properly organized by people with better sense - plus support from the city government doesn't hurt either.

The MOVEMENT which this years Detroit event is going to be BIG - as they have cleared alot of obstacles - but this new ACT might put a wrench in their game plan. We'll be watching this one closely. Here's more on that story:

===========================================

Fans will find a three-day techno party at Hart Plaza on Memorial Day weekend, but it won't be the Detroit Electronic Music Festival.

After three years of the DEMF, a different name will grace the riverfront marquee this year: Movement 2003 -- Detroit's Electronic Music Festival.

Techno musician Derrick May, in his first year as producer, said he hopes the new name will put his own imprint on the event.

"We need to concentrate on moving in our own direction, with our own perspective," May said Thursday night from Tokyo, where he was performing. "The idea is to give this thing a fresh mentality."

For three years, the Memorial Day weekend slot was in the hands of the Detroit firm Pop Culture Media. Last month, the City of Detroit awarded the holiday weekend to a team led by May after considering proposals from both groups.

Launched in 2000, the DEMF quickly became one of Detroit's leading cultural success stories, drawing techno fans by the hundreds of thousands.

Pop Culture Media claims ownership of both the "Detroit Electronic Music Festival" and "DEMF" names. Company president Carol Marvin contends May had no choice but to come up with a new moniker.

"Derrick got the plaza for Memorial Day Weekend," she said Thursday. "But it's a different festival."

Marvin recently joined with Detroit boxer Tommy Hearns to form DEMF Inc., with plans to open a nightclub and stage a techno fest. She said Thursday night that festival details will be announced soon.

"I've formed a partnership with Tommy Hearns to take the DEMF and all its efforts to the next level," she said. "We're moving forward with our plans."

The DEMF earned an international reputation for showcasing techno, and May said his event aims to keep attention on the music's birthplace.

"We want to keep Detroit as the focal point," he said. "It is and will be the focal point."

[ April 12, 2003, 11:33 AM: Message edited by: Raven Fox ]

[mdpm99]

Not for nothing folks, but I did post this and there was not even ONE response!:

Author Topic: and any other event federal officials don't like....
david mancuso

Member # 1426

posted April 09, 2003 09:55 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
From: Drug Policy Alliance <alerts@actioncenter.drugpolicy.org>

================================================== ==========
SUPPORT DRUG POLICY REFORM!!! FORWARD THIS ALERT TO YOUR
FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES
================================================== ==========

*** EMERGENCY - JOE BIDEN TRYING TO SNEAK RAVE ACT INTO S151
Conference
*** CALL YOUR SENATOR NOW

Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) is at this very moment attempting to sneak
the RAVE Act into conference committee on the National AMBER Alert
Network Act of 2003 (S151). S151 is a popular bill about child
abduction and has nothing to do with drug issues. S151 has already
been passed by the Senate and House and is now in Conference. In
contrast, the RAVE Act has not passed even one single committee this
year. It did pass a committee last year, but was so controversial
two Senators withdrew their sponsorship after the vote.

This means that if the RAVE Act passes the conference committee, it
is likely to become law without ever having a hearing, a debate or a
vote. Drug Policy Alliance has been told that Senator Biden has told
other conference committee members, incorrectly, that the ACLU is no
longer in opposition to the action. He also has told conferees that
nightclub owners now support him (on the basis of one group that
switched sides). If the act makes it into the conference language it
is likely to become law. It must be stopped now.

PHONE YOUR SENATORS and Conference Committee Members (Background
information below). DO IT NOW. If you do not respond to this alert,
the controversial RAVE Act is likely to become law and it will be
much harder to fix.

ACTIONS TO TAKE:

1. The following Members of Congress are on the conference
committee. They need to hear from you IF AND ONLY IF you live in
their district. Please be polite. Just tell them that you oppose
the RAVE Act, that it is controversial and it should not be included
in the conference language of S151. Don't stay on the phone long.
Ask as many people as you can to call them.

HOUSE:
James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) - 202/225-5101
Howard Coble (R-NC) - 202/225-3065
Lamar Smith (R-TX) - 202/225-4236
Mark Green (R-WI)- 202/225-5665
Melissa Hart (R-PA)- 202/225-2565
John Conyers (D-MI) - 202/225-5126
Bobby Scott (D-VA) - - 202/225-8351

SENATE:
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) - 202/224-5251
Charles Grassley (R-IA) - 202/224-3744
Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - 202/224-4124
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) - 202/224-5972
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) - 202/224-4242
Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - 202/224-4543
Joseph Biden (D-DE) - 202/224-5042

2. Everyone in the U.S. - You have two Senators who can weigh in on
this issue with the conferees. A list of your Senators by state can
be found at
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.
Please call your Senators at the Capitol Switchboard at 202/224-3121 -
please tell them that the RAVE Act is very controversial. Senator
Biden is holding up the AMBER Act by placing controversial bill in
conference. Urge them to oppose the RAVE Act by contacting the
Senate conferees and asking them to leave it off the measure so that
there will at least be a hearing on this issue.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Congress is considering two pieces of legislation that could create
disincentives for club owners to have water, ambulances and
paramedics available at large dance events. The bills might also
threaten live music and dancing. If enacted, either bill could
prevent you from hearing your favorite band or DJ live. Every musical
style would be affected, including rock and roll, Hip Hop, country,
and electronic music. The proposed laws could also shut down hemp
festivals, circuit parties, and other events government officials
don't like. Both bills would allow overzealous prosecutors to send
innocent people to jail for the crimes of others.

The two bills are the RAVE Act (H.R. 718) and the CLEAN-UP Act (H.R.
834). The RAVE Act was first introduced last year in the Senate by
Senator Joe Biden (D-DE). A House version was introduced by Rep.
Lamar Smith (R-TX). Thanks to the support of thousands of voters like
you, Drug Policy Alliance and a coalition of friends and activists
around the country was able to stop both bills last year.
Unfortunately, supporters of the RAVE Act are even more determined to
pass it this year. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) is sponsoring a new RAVE
Act in the House. Additionally, Senator Biden has introduced a Senate
version entitled the Illicit Drugs Anti-Proliferation Act.

If enacted, the RAVE Act would make it easier for the federal
government to punish property owners for any drug offense that their
customers commit - even if they work hard to stop such offenses. If
enacted, nightclub and stadium owners would likely stop holding
events - such as rock or Hip Hop concerts - in which even one person
might use drugs.

The CLEAN-UP Act was also first introduced last year, but it failed
to make it out of committee. This year's bill has over 60 co-sponsors
and could become law without your help. Sponsored by Rep. Doug Ose (R-
CA), the Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, and Undermine Production
(CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act is largely an innocuous bill that
provides more money and training for the clean up of illegal
methamphetamine lab. Hidden within the bill, however, is a draconian
section that could make dancing and live music federal crimes.

Section 305 of the CLEAN-UP Act stipulates that:

`Whoever, for a commercial purpose, knowingly promotes any rave,
dance, music, or other entertainment event, that takes place under
circumstances where the promoter knows or reasonably ought to know
that a controlled substance will be used or distributed in violation
of Federal law or the law of the place where the event is held, shall
be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not
more than 9 years, or both.'

This provision will allow any concert promoter, event organizer,
nightclub owner and arena or stadium owner to be fined and jailed,
since a reasonable person would know some people use drugs at musical
events.

Under both the RAVE Act and the CLEAN-UP Act, it doesn't matter if
the event promoter and property owner try to prevent people from
using drugs. Nor does it matter if the vast majority of people
attending the event are law-abiding citizens that want to listen to
music not do drugs. If enacted, either bill could be used to shut
down raves, circuit parties, marijuana rallies, unpopular music
concerts, and any other event federal officials don't like.


Please visit
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.ctsg.com/managesubscription.asp to
learn about other lists you can subscribe to, or to unsubscribe from
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For problems, please contact Jeanette Irwin at jirwin@drugpolicy.org .

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[mdpm99]

Originally posted by Raven Fox:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by AgentDoubleA:
Thanks for the confirmations everybody. Looks like I won't be having anymore sets in my basement anymore (fines are up to $250,000 ). :( This is a further example of needing to take it back underground anyway.

DAYUM this hurts!!! </font>[/QUOTE]Greetings, Raven Fox:

The underground is where "change takes place." You make less green energy, but less is more sometimes. This is why I keep the loft party away from places with liguor lic and or cabaret lic....as I am presently doing once again..

d

[imported_Gman]

^

[Raven Fox]

Originally posted by david mancuso:
Greetings, Raven Fox:

The underground is where "change takes place." You make less green energy, but less is more sometimes. This is why I keep the loft party away from places with liguor lic and or cabaret lic....as I am presently doing once again..

d Thanks David. I can see that we have to take matters into our own hands. deep underground.

much respect to the hail.gif LOFT.

a friend of mine that used to go told me a story about how they used to go to the Loft and to the Gallery back in the day. He mentioned a big parachute in the ceiling and lots of balloons graemlins/grinyes.gif and people spilling out into the streets at the Gallery nearby.
Well - he told me when they would come up to the block, they would ask eachother do you want to go STEREO (the loft) or DISCO (the gallery) by which he meant the quality of the sound and the wild mixing style of Nicky Siano. He described your club sound as being so clear like water flowing through your body. I was captivated about him going on about how beautiful the vibe was at those early LOFT parties. My only experience was the Larry Levan Memorial - we didn't get the pleasure of personally meeting. Hopefully someday though - I'd like to shake your hand.

Thank you for your inspiration!

Raven

[mdpm99]

RAVE Act Passes – Tell Ashcroft Not to Abuse It


Late on Thursday, April 10, 2003, the Senate and House the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (formerly known as the RAVE Act) as an attachment to the Amber Alert Bill (a child abduction bill). The bill is likely to be signed into law by the President in the next few weeks. Fax Attorney General Ashcroft right now! Urge him and President Bush to make clear and careful enforcement decisions that uphold our freedom of speech, right to peacefully assemble, and our right to dance! We thank our supporters for their faxes and encouragement. We will continue to work in coalition to fix this dangerous law.


http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/

There still may be time to have your voice heard

d

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by Raven Fox:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by david mancuso:
Greetings, Raven Fox:

The underground is where "change takes place." You make less green energy, but less is more sometimes. This is why I keep the loft party away from places with liguor lic and or cabaret lic....as I am presently doing once again..

d Thanks David. I can see that we have to take matters into our own hands. deep underground.

much respect to the hail.gif LOFT.

a friend of mine that used to go told me a story about how they used to go to the Loft and to the Gallery back in the day. He mentioned a big parachute in the ceiling and lots of balloons graemlins/grinyes.gif and people spilling out into the streets at the Gallery nearby.
Well - he told me when they would come up to the block, they would ask eachother do you want to go STEREO (the loft) or DISCO (the gallery) by which he meant the quality of the sound and the wild mixing style of Nicky Siano. He described your club sound as being so clear like water flowing through your body. I was captivated about him going on about how beautiful the vibe was at those early LOFT parties. My only experience was the Larry Levan Memorial - we didn't get the pleasure of personally meeting. Hopefully someday though - I'd like to shake your hand.

Thank you for your inspiration!

Raven </font>[/QUOTE]Raven:

By the way, the material we used for the ceiling was the material they use in the inner lining of an astronaut's suit. We got sheets of it and sewed them together. It just looked like it was a parachute.

d

[Raven Fox]

Originally posted by david mancuso:
Raven:

By the way, the material we used for the ceiling was the material they use in the inner lining of an astronaut's suit. We got sheets of it and sewed them together. It just looked like it was a parachute.

d Thats cool.
Sounds like something I would do.

Listen - Do the names Donald Newsome, Kenny Eubanks, Ruth Harvey or Maxine ring a bell? They were 'Loft Heads' - also my close Garage family. Kenny passed on a few years ago now. But the rest of the gang is still pumping. Donald (Nunu) sends his regards - I told him you were on the boards.

Thank you for Being - Talk to you soon!

Raven

p.s.

This is a really important issue / The RAVE Act!

[ April 13, 2003, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: Raven Fox ]

[mdpm99]

Yes, I remember them and Kenny in particular.

d