CONGRESS WANTS TO TAKE AWAY YOUR RIGHTS-
SEVEN THINGS TO DO ABOUT IT
from the http://killradio.org list… (Drug Policy Alliance Action Center press release)
Your right to dance, sing, DJ, listen to good music, and run your own business is under attack. The federal government may soon have the power to shut down dance clubs, rock, country, and Hip Hop concerts, gay and lesbian bars, and anything else federal officials don’t like.
As you may know, Congress is considering three bills that could land many event promoters, bar and nightclub owners, and stadium owners in jail if even one person uses drugs at their events. If enacted, these bills could prevent you from hearing your favorite band or DJ live. Every musical style would be affected.
The three dangerous bills are the RAVE Act (H.R. 718), the CLEAN-UP Act (H.R. 834), and the Illicit Drugs Anti-Proliferation Act (S. 226). While aimed at the very real problem of substance abuse, the bills go too far by punishing business owners for the drug offenses of their customers and threatening to shut down concerts, circuit parties, dance clubs, and other forms of entertainment. Business owners could be jailed for enacting health measures that save lives – such as teaching their staff first-aid. You could even go to jail for 20 years for throwing a party in your own home.
Drug Policy Alliance worked with dozens of organizations to stop these bills last year. Tens of thousands of voters urged their Members of Congress to oppose the bills. Two of the original co –
sponsors withdrew their support and House and Senate leadership never dared to bring the bills up for a vote. Supporters of these draconian bills, however, are determined to pass them this year. They will become law unless you help.
Drug Policy Alliance staff are heading down to Miami next week for the 2003 Winter Music Conference to work with business owners, artists, and fans to develop a comprehensive plan for stopping these bills and protecting music and dancing. Even as you read this e-mail, however, politicians in Washington, DC are plotting to quickly make these laws and give the government broad new power over your life. They will succeed, unless you ACT NOW.
SEVEN THINGS TO DO
***ACTION ONE: SUPPORT US
Contribute to the national campaign to stop these bills. Without your help, these bills could become law by the end of the year. Drug Policy Alliance Network needs to raise at least $180,000 in emergency funding to stop Congress and protect music and dancing. In particular, we need to hire a high-profile Washington lobbying firm that can voice the concerns of promoters, DJs, and nightclub owners directly to Members of Congress and pressure them to oppose these bills. We also need vital funding for grassroots and public education efforts.
Without emergency funding from people like you, we will not be able to squash these draconian bills and protect music, dancing, and all your rights.
Contribute on-line at
http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/donate
Any size gift will make a difference.
***ACTION TWO: CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Contact your Members of Congress. Tell your Representative to oppose the RAVE Act (H.R. 718) in its entirety and to oppose Section 305 in
the CLEAN-UP Act (H.R. 834). Tell your Senators to oppose the Illicit Drugs Anti-Proliferation Act (S. 226).
Fax your Representative for free by going to:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=1516
Fax your Senators for free by going to:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=1448
Organize a group of voters in your area to meet with your elected officials directly. Information on organizing a meeting with your Members of Congress can be found at http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/music/capbasics.htm
***ACTION THREE: HOST AN EVENT
Hold an event in which part of the proceeds goes to the cause. (E-mail if interested). For instance, Buzzlife Productions and Maze Nightclub are having an event in Miami in which the ticket sales go to our fight in Congress. Tickets for this benefit can be purchased at:
http://www.groovetickets.com/ordersystem/groove/eventviewqb.asp?
AffilID=93&EventsID=4750&PGname=Buzzlife%2BProductions
You do not have to attend the event to buy a ticket, and all proceeds go to Drug Policy Alliance and the Electronic Music Defense Fund (EM:DEF) for our fight against the RAVE Act.
***ACTION FOUR: PUT A BANNER AD ON YOUR WEB SITE
Tell people about the fax campaign. Link to our banner ad. Here is a link to the code you can cut and paste on our website:
http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/music/link_rave.htm
***ACTION FIVE: EDUCATE THE PUBLIC
Raise public awareness by distributing flyers at events, sending
action alerts to e-mail lists, using drug policy activists soundbites
in your music and more. Find out more at:[url]
http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/music/whattodo.htm
[/url]
***ACTION SIX: SUBMIT A LETTER TO YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper urging your
Members of Congress to oppose these bills. After you submit the
letter, send a copy of the letter to your Members of Congress, along
with a personal note. This is a good way to show your elected
officials that you not only care enough about the issue to write
them, but that you also care enough to write a letter to the local
newspaper.
To find out the contact info for newspapers in your state see:[url]
http://www.mapinc.org/media.htm[/url]
For tips on writing a letter to the editor, including talking points,
see:[url]
http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/music/media.htm[/url]
To find out who your Representative is see:[url]
http://www.house.gov[/url]
To find out who your Senators are see:[url]
http://www.senate.gov[/url]
***ACTION SEVEN: FORWARD THIS ALERT
Forward this action alert to your friends, co-workers, and family
members, as well as e-mail lists. We need thousands of voters to take
action.
For more information on these bills and the war on dancing and music
see:
[url]
http://www.drugpolicy.org/communities/raveact/[/url]
and [url]http://www.nomoredrugwar.org[/url]
Please consider giving to our campaign to protect your rights.
Without your help, Congress may soon destroy music and entertainment,
as we know it. Contribute on-line at: [url]www.nomoredrugwar/donate[/url]
PS: MIAMI WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE
If you will be in Miami the week of March 17th, check out the
following:
Wednesday, March 19th
Music Benefit for Drug Policy Alliance and EM:DEF
Maze Nightclub
1290 18th Street
Miami Beach, FL
10pm-5am, $15
(Special thanks to Buzzlife Productions!!! [url]http://www.buzzlife.com[/url]
Friday, March 21st
“No to S. 226”, Music and Fun
The Laundry Bar
721 Lincoln Lane
South Beach Miami, FL
10pm-5am || Giveaways from sponsors all night
(North East corner direction of the Sony Music Building)
This is a FREE event
(Special thanks to LuvChild Entertainment!!![url]
http://www.luvchildentertainment.com[/url])
Drug Policy Alliance will have booths at both of these events, as
well as numerous other events during the Winter Music Conference. If
you are attending Remix Hotel ([url]http://www.remixmag.com[/url]), make sure
to stop by our booth in the exhibit area.
More info:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/02/06/3e41d4afa8ad7
http://www.emdef.org/laws_and_cases.html