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Vote For Your Raving Rights!!


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|| SIGN THE PETITION || URGENT action is needed to fight The RAVE Act! ||

ACTION ALERT

Sign the online petition at www.buzzlife.com

S 2633 - The RAVE Act

For the full text of this bill, please go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and search for S 2633

Purpose: Senators Grassley and Biden on June 18th proposed the Reducing America's Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act of 2002 (S2633). This RAVE Act is in the Senate now and is awaiting a vote. This proposed bill focuses on establishments that feature electronic dance music. Under this bill, the federal government would have the power to prosecute law-abiding, tax paying venue owners and event promoters for the actions of their customers.

Status: This bill is awaiting a vote in the Senate and can be voted on anytime on or after July 8th, 2002.

Background: Senate Bill 2633 is an attempt by legislators to reduce the illegal use of ecstasy by re-writing Title 21 U.S. Code Section 856 (aka the "crack house law") so that it can be easily used to shut down electronic dance music events. This legislation adds a $250,000 minimum civil liability clause to the existing criminal penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment and possible $500,000 fine. This legislation could have a devastating effect on the electronic dance music community.

The RAVE Act along with other bills such as H.R. 3782, known as Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, Neutralize, and Undermine Production (CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act of 2002, seriously jeopardize the liberties of law-abiding promoters and partygoers. Language used in both bills specifically target electronic dance music, even identifying events or raves as places with bass heavy sounds and repetitive rhythms. Targeting a music genre clearly violates our civil freedom. For more information on the effect this could have on you, visit www.aclu.org and search for "rave".

What You Can Do: Take action NOW! S 2633 was introduced under special rules and could be voted on as soon as July 8th, 2002

1. Sign the online petition, go to http://buzzlife.com/buzzdc/page.cfm?pg=contests&contest_id=13

2. Write or call your respective Senators and House Representatives and make it clear that you want them to vote against the RAVE Act in the Senate, and the CLEAN-UP Act in the House.

You can contact your representatives by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121. To find your representatives, go to http://www.vote-smart.org/.

3. Spread the word! Tell your friends, family, coworkers to sign the petition and call their representatives.

Some Points to Make:

The electronic dance music industry and culture has existed for 20 years.

There is a viable industry of electronic music professionals that in no way profit or promote drug use.

Electronic music is a part of our mainstream society. Corporate entities such as Volkswagen and Gap Inc are currently featuring this music in their commercials.

Law abiding, tax paying venue owners and event promoters should not be held accountable for the actions of their patrons.

Electronic dance music has saturated the US at nightclubs, concert halls and festivals, as well as on TV, radio and cable. It is a form of artistic expression, which is NOT synonymous with drug use.

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i've heard some people supporting this act or just being indifferent to it. . .that it's about time raves were put to death and hating on mainstream massives and teenyboppers wearing big pants and fairy wings, . . .or for the possibility that it'll bring back the "underground" parties. . .

anyways, i think it's a rationalization to back their lazy apathy. . .i don't like "raves" anymore either. . .but who knows how the broad language in that act will be interpreted? what do you guys think?

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Originally posted by dragongrrrl

Actually, i know some people are getting together this weekend to put a protest together. I'm going to try to attend the meeting- i'll keep you all posted.

Dragongrrrly - let me know if you guys need some numbers or stats to help make your case. I'd be willing to participate in any protests too.

Do you know how many violent crimes were committed by people under the influence of ecstacy in the District in 2000? Zero. That's right, zero.

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Originally posted by vicman

all 10 million should have a rave on the National Mall

Yeah, that's a GREAT way to get the legislation passed on Monday or Tuesday.

Hey, Scratch, I think this will affect clubs as much as or even more so than raves. All they have to do is decide they don't like a club, send in some cops to find a drug on some kid (not hard to do anywhere), and then shut er down with a half a million in fines for the owner.

I, personally, don't want a US where I can't go out and hear good DJ's. I'd hate to have to pay $25 go to a dress code VIP lounge to hear some "DJ" play Kylie Monogue and Dirty Vegas MP3s every weekend.

God!!!! *shudder* that's awful! I'm definitely going to Buzz tonight. I appreciate it in a new light. I'm NOT gonna kiss the floor when I get there, though. :tongue:

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Just in case you're interested, I met with a bunch of people yesterday to start organizing protests for this. The most difficult thing about is that no one knows when the actual voting is going to be, since the Senate doesn't have a schedule. They're going to try and do it as quickly as possible, with no discussion, so it's hard to even say if protests could get organized before it's voted on. But even if it's passed by the Senate, it still has to go to the House. So, the tentative date for the protest is July 26th at 3pm. We're also going to be checking with another big group who has already started working on getting permits- hopefully, we'll be able to join with them. There are also some non-EDM-related groups who are interested in working with us on the protests (like the ACLU).

One thing we'd like to do is make this protest bigger than DC- this Act will have national ramifications, so we'd like to bring people in from as far away as possible, or at least give people ideas to have their own protests and things in their own states. Would those of you who live in or often visit other cities (Philly, New York, where ever) be willing to distribute some flyers? I could probably get you an electronic version you could print out, or just meet with you and give you some once we have them printed. If you don't mind doing this, send me a pm, or email me at megatron1220@yahoo.com.

I'll let you know once details become more concrete.

:D Meg

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