[Peace] Defending Rights & Dissent: slip now to stop Illinois anti-protest bill

Tue May 21 13:23:28 UTC 2019

The fact that this bill is a going proposition in the Democratic-controlled
Illinois legislature is pretty disturbing. Is this why we have a
Democratic-controlled Illinois government? So they can vote to take away
our right to protest the fossil fuel industry that's destroying our planet?

Please slip against the bill, and ask Rep. Ammons to lead the fight to
block this assault on our right to protest.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Sue at Defending Rights & Dissent <info at rightsanddissent.org>
Date: Mon, May 20, 2019 at 5:03 PM
Subject: The vote is tomorrow: take action to stop Illinois anti-protest
bill
To: Robert Naiman <naiman at justforeignpolicy.org>

Robert,

I guess you might be tired of hearing from me about this terrible bill
winding its way through the Illinois legislature... but here we go again.

HB1633
<https://default.salsalabs.org/Tbafc3727-fefb-4e51-9adf-0b9e6bdea52b/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>
would create draconian new penalties for protests at pipelines, refineries,
and other sites deemed "critical infrastructure." The bill also includes a
"guilty by association" provision that would impose catastrophic fines on
organizations that support these grassroots protests. *Please see below for
more details about the bill.*

*Can you take two minutes to file 2 witness slips against the bill?* It's
not as easy as signing a petition, especially because I need to ask you to
file two witness slips, one for the subcommittee, one for the committee.
But this is the best way to convey your opposition.

*Click here to file a witness slip to OPPOSE the bill in  Subcommittee.*
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T6a31c7fb-568b-4365-9e7f-fd471b8bab06/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>

Then come back to this email and...

*Click here to file a witness slip to OPPOSE the bill in Committee*
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T43f80b4c-ab9a-4d0f-9c8f-22d23fed3185/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>

I agree the forms ask for too much information and are not very clear...
but it is easier than driving to Springfield for most. *The key is to
remember to check yourself as an Opponent to the bill, *and check "record
of appearance only"

HB1633 is backed by ALEC, the extractive industry and other corporate
interests, and has bi-partisan support. It is scheduled for a hearing in
the Senate Criminal Law Committee on Tuesday, May 21 at 5 p.m.

Let's show that people power can overcome corporate greed, and we won't
give up our right to dissent without a fight.
Please take action against this anti-protest bill now:

*Click here
<https://default.salsalabs.org/Tf2a6fb76-65b0-43f5-8867-ea98212a5e74/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>...
and then return to this email and click here
<https://default.salsalabs.org/Taacf8218-43e5-4ead-9734-82b4dce2512d/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>.....
to
submit OPPOSITION witness slips to HB1633 for the subcommittee and
committee*. The process takes a minute and is important, it allows you to
"testify" against a bill without being present in Springfield. The links
above will take you to the Illinois general assembly website where you'll
be able to fill out the witness slips against HB1633. Fill out all your
info, mark yourself as an OPPONENT to the bill, and check "record of
appearance only"

*The hearing for the bill is TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 21 so please fill out
your witness slips today!*

Stay Loud, Stay Strong,

Sue
More about HB1633:

Fifty Illinois and national organizations signed the following letter (also
available here
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T0ce9aaca-8499-4dc0-bec0-1555ac0c0aa9/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>).

To Members of the Illinois Senate:

The undersigned racial justice, criminal justice reform, and other civil
society groups and individuals urge you to oppose Illinois House Bill 1633.
The bill undermines the promising reform efforts in Illinois and nationally
designed to remedy the harm caused by mass incarceration, and it threatens
to silence already marginalized voices. HB 1633 is an unnecessary proposal
that creates new draconian penalties for conduct already covered by
existing criminal statutes and could have dire unintended consequences,
including for youth. HB 1633 is part of a national trend of so-called
“critical infrastructure” legislation promoted by the American Legislative
Exchange Council (ALEC) that is intended to neutralize climate justice
activism. We urge you to oppose HB 1633.

Critical infrastructure bills disproportionately affect some of the most
underrepresented communities, criminalizing their right to protest. These
bills target many already marginalized voices, in reaction to some of the
most high-profile protests in recent history. Native Americans—women, in
particular—are playing an important role as “water protectors” in protests
against pipelines; low-income communities of color are most affected by
unchecked environmental pollution; family farms have the most to lose by
unfair land-grabs for large infrastructure projects. These communities have
a right to peacefully resist environmentally unsafe and unjust policies,
and unchecked corporate abuse.

HB 1633 is purportedly designed to protect critical infrastructure, but the
definition of “critical infrastructure” is overly broad and would cover
large swaths of the state in urban, suburban, and rural areas, creating the
unintended consequence of ensnaring many in Illinois’ already overburdened
criminal justice system. For example, someone trespassing in rail yards or
on el-tracks without intent to damage or destroy could be charged with a
class 4 felony punishable by a fine of $1,000, one to three years
imprisonment, or both. Currently, criminal trespass to property is
punishable as a Class B or Class A misdemeanor, depending upon the nature
of the offense (720 ILCS 5/21-3).

Additionally, the bill does not distinguish between criminal damages of one
dollar or a million dollars. Each would be eligible for the same penalty of
ten years in prison and a $100,000 fine. At a time when many people,
including lawmakers, have recognized the deleterious effects that mass
incarceration has had on society and have attempted to rectify laws that
have criminalized certain conduct or imposed unreasonable penalties, HB
1633, is a giant step backwards. By creating a whole new class of
nonviolent offenders who could serve serious prison time, it is
antithetical to criminal justice reform.

Environmental advocacy, including civil disobedience, does not threaten
physical infrastructure or safety, it threatens corporations that put
profits and pollution ahead of justice and the environment. Critical
infrastructure bills are based on model legislation crafted by corporate
interests to establish special protections for some private industries
engaged in controversial practices that attract opposition and protest.
These bills, including HB 1633, are rooted in animus against environmental
justice advocacy because it threatens the profits of these corporations.
Whenever states enact legislation based on animus towards particular
political speech it has a chilling effect that will be felt widely.

We urge you to oppose HB 1633. From a criminal justice reform perspective,
this bill is damaging, as it creates new steep penalties for conduct that
is already covered under existing criminal law. These new steep penalties
and special protections for so-called critical infrastructure are rooted in
animus towards anti-pipeline protesters. It is inappropriate for states to
seek to legislation in order to penalize individuals for their First
Amendment-protected points of view.

Please direct questions to Sue Udry, Defending Rights & Dissent, at
202.552.7408 or sue at rightsanddissent.org.

Sincerely,

350 Chicago

350 Kishwaukee (IL)

American Friends Service Committee - Chicago

Area Consortium of Educational Service For Our Youth  (DBA:A.C.E.S. 4
Youth)

Chicago Area Peace Action

Chicago Food Policy Action Council

Chicago SE Side Coalition to Ban Petcoke (SSCBP)

Clean Power Lake County

Climate Defense Project

Color Of Change

Crossroads Fund

Defending Rights & Dissent

Earth Defense Coalition

Eco-Justice Collaborative

Extinction Rebellion Chicago

Faith In Place Action Fund

Food & Water Watch

Fox Valley Citizens for Peace & Justice

Frack Free Illinois

Friends of Bell Smith Springs

Grassroots Collaborative

Greater Highland Area Concerned Citizens

Greenpeace USA

Indivisible Chicago

Indivisible South Suburban Chicago

Illinois Green Party

Illinois People's Action

Lifted Voices

Little Village Environmental Justice Organization

Moms Demand Action

National Lawyers Guild

National Lawyers Guild – Chicago Chapter

National Lawyers Guild - St. Louis Chapter

Native Organizers Alliance

Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice

Nuclear Energy Information Service -NEIS-

Occupy Rockford

Palestine Legal

Reform for Illinois

Save Our Illinois Land

Shawnee Forest Defense!

Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter

Southern Illinois DSA

Southern Illinoisans Against Fracturing Our Environment

The People's Lobby

Vinyard Indian Settlement

Water Protector Legal Collective

Will County Progressives

WindSolarUSA, Inc.

X-Lab

*Read more about "Critical Infrastructure" bills in our toolkit for
activists here
<https://default.salsalabs.org/Tbd6072d7-b107-4930-97e0-78e8044732e2/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>.*

To take action against this anti-protest bill:

Today I am asking you to submit 2 witness slips:

*Click here to file a witness slip to OPPOSE the bill in  Subcommittee.*
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T6aecc2f8-1180-4eb5-8386-aac64cf0a00e/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>

*Click here to file a witness slip to OPPOSE the bill in Committee*
<https://default.salsalabs.org/Tf3458f02-ca8b-42a7-9995-864e8739375c/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>

The process takes just a minute and is important, it allows you to
"testify" against a bill without being present in Springfield. The links
above will take you to the Illinois general assembly website where you'll
be able to fill out  witness slips in OPPOSITION to HB1633.

The form is not the easiest to understand, but you can do it! Fill out your
info and mark yourself as an OPPONENT to the bill and "record of appearance
only".

*The  vote will be Tuesday, May 21 at 5 pm  So Please Take Action Now!*

Photo Credits:

People over pipelines by Fibonacci Blue
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T9d63a693-3646-41d8-8b95-c7273e3eab91/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>

Eat Pray Protest by David Geitgey Sierralupe
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T35b7d08d-fe59-4c6c-b38c-1f06918fe2ab/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>

Repeal the Patriot Act by DRAD staff
Donate
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T647670b5-f7e6-4657-8224-747db112e4c5/a73233ab-83f8-4f98-ba57-2cebd3646427>

*Get in Touch:* hello at rightsanddissent.org | 202.552.7408

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