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Greens Urge Repeal of 'Rave Act' Legislation. |
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THE GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES Warning of potential for abuse by prosecutors and suppression of artistic expression, Greens call attached legislation targeting raves an example of anti-drug hysteria. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Greens responded with outrage to the news that the U.S. Senate passed the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (the "Rave Act"), which targets concert promoters, event organizers, nightclub owners, and the owners of arenas, stadiums, hotels, and motels for drug charges if any illegal drugs were used on the premises -- even if they made a good faith effort to prevent drug use. The Rave Act legislation was passed after Sen. Joe Biden (D.-Del.) attached it to an unrelated piece of legislation, the "Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003" or PROTECT Act to establish a system of measures in the event of child abduction. The amendment was inserted quickly, with no public discussion. President Bush is expected to sign it shortly. "By threatening concert promoters and venue owners with drug charges even if they had nothing to do with the sale or use of illegal drugs, the Rave Act will suppress youth culture, including popular and non-mainstream music and art," said Kirstin Marr, media coordinator for the Colorado Green Party. "Sen. Biden has made himself the equivalent of former Sen. Jesse Helms (R.-N.C.), whose attacks on art were motivated by anti-sex hysteria. Biden's legislated witchhunt is motivated by anti-drug hysteria, but it's no less pernicious. It shows that Democrats can have as little regard as Republicans for freedom of expression." Opponents of the Rave Act, including the Drug Policy Alliance, note that the bill had not passed any committees in the House or Senate this year. Greens have urged repeal of current anti-drug laws and an end to the 'war on drugs' in light of civil liberties, the need for addiction to be addressed through medical attention rather than incarceration, and the harm that anti-drug laws have caused through the perpetuation of a violent drug trade. "The Rave Act shows how important it is for young people -- especially college and high school students -- to become politically aware and involved, and to register to vote," said newly elected Racine, Wisconsin, Alderperson Pete Karas, who led the campaign against a crackdown on local raves in southeast Wisconsin. "But it also shows how the established parties, Democrats as well as Republicans, are often hostile to them, and equally hostile to artists and small business owners. The Rave Act places them at the mercy of Attorney General John Ashcroft and overzealous prosecutors. We urge campus groups -- including Campus Greens -- and other youth organizations to speak out and demand repeal of the Rave Act, before innocent people get locked up, concert halls and clubs go dark, and artists get driven out of businesses." MORE INFORMATION search: spol, lwcj |