Oregon Law Would Jail War Protesters as Terrorists By Lee Douglas PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - An Oregon anti-terrorism bill would jail street-blocking protesters for at least 25 years in a thinly veiled effort to discourage anti-war demonstrations, critics say. The bill has met strong opposition but lawmakers still expect a debate on the definition of terrorism and the value of free speech before a vote by the state senate judiciary committee, whose Chairman, Republican Senator John Minnis, wrote the proposed legislation. Dubbed Senate Bill 742, it identifies a terrorist as a person who "plans or participates in an act that is intended, by at least one of its participants, to "disrupt business, transportation, schools, government, or free assembly". The bill's few public supporters say police need stronger laws to break up protests that have created havoc in cities like Portland, where thousands of people have marched and demonstrated against war in Iraq since before its inception. "We need some additional tools to control protests that shut down the city," said Lars Larson, a conservative radio talk show host who has aggressively stumped for the bill. Larson said protesters should be protected by free speech laws, but not given free reign to hold up ambulances or frighten people out of their daily routines, adding that police and the court system could be trusted to see the difference. "Right now a group of people can get together and go downtown and block a freeway," Larson said. "You need a tool to deal with that." The bill contains automatic sentences of *25 years to life* for non-violent civil disobedience that is being labeled "terrorism". Critics of the bill say its language is so vague it erodes basic freedoms in the name of fighting terrorism under an extremely broad definition. "Under the original version (terrorism) meant essentially a food fight," said Andrea Meyer of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which opposes the bill. Police unions and minority groups also oppose the bill for fear it could have a chilling effect on relations between police and poor people, minorities, children and "vulnerable" populations. Legislators say the bill stands little chance of passage. "I just don't think this bill is ever going to get out of committee," said Democratic Senator Vicki Walker, one of four members on the six-person panel who have said they oppose the legislation. In the next 4 years, watch the "Patriot Act II"; language like this may become all too familiar.
Looks like we need to start fighting back with weapons now, if they wanna jail us for that long for being nonviolent...
element, what was that? lol soulrebel, I'd say that now isn't quite yet the time to consider using "weapons" lol, although I do fear that sometime in the not-too-distant future the 2nd amendment will once again be a hot issue for *progressives* for the first time since the Jeffersonian days. Intensely scary.
I seriously doubt that this bullshit would pass a court of law should it be implimented.Fuckin republicans,,,,,,,,figures.
homebudz, you're absolutely right. For the RNC protests that took place last summer, EVERY SINGLE defendant was acquitted. Every arrest (of almost 2000 people including bystanders at the wrong place/wrong time) was found to be unlawful. The cops will always side with the power establishment because that's all they've ever known. Poor saps. www.nyc.inydmedia.org for info on the RNC and aftermath.
a terrorist as a person who "plans or participates in an act that is intended, by at least one of its participants, to "disrupt business, transportation, schools, government, or free assembly". hehe, i say let them pass the bill, so you can charge the police officers with terrorism for disrupting the protestors rights to free assembly.
so many American cities have passed ordinances to block the Patriot Act from taking effect, as to shine the light of our dying Democracy onto the literally-fascist policies being put forth by the likes of John AssCrotch. He stepped down as to avoid personal responsibility for future Constitutional violations, but he set the precedent of what to expect from the dark factions of our government seeking to subvert our failing experiment called the "home of the brave".
Your comment about the RNC... "For the RNC protests that took place last summer, EVERY SINGLE defendant was acquitted." Is this true? Even for the person who was arrested for the dragon fire and for the people who dropped the banner?
I didn't hear about the...dragonfire" incident. LOL what happened with that? Banner drops happen all the time before and during political demonstrations. I've done them myself. That's nothing new and it's not a serious legal offense. Acquittals are almost guaranteed.
Just listen to your selves !!!! Peaceful protest is acceptable to everyone, what isn't, is blocking people from doing there job or getting around, I'd love to get a few hundred people together and block all the streets where you live , just as you were going to set of to a protest, if you try and get past, we'll stone your car or house, piss and shit in your garden, then totally tear the place up !! when the cops arrive we'll claim our right to protest ....... You idiots are free to have your protest but not anything more,,, step across that line and I wish you a miserable jail sentence !!!!!! Yes you have your rights, but know what they are and respect everyone else's..... Please don't tell me you only protest peacefully because that's crap !!! you turn up, then you systematically disturb the peace, until the police have no alternative but to react, then you all scream "" where's my rights"" You have the right to remain silent .......... Use it !!!!!!
