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

[Debra Schrishuhn]

Um, St. Rep. is the proper abbreviation for State Representative. I assume
you were attempting to make a funny.

On Tue, May 21, 2019 at 12:08 PM C G Estabrook <cgestabrook at gmail.com>
wrote:

> You may approve what Carol’s done, but “St.” is a bit much….
>
>
> > On May 21, 2019, at 10:25 AM, Debra Schrishuhn via Peace-discuss <
> peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net> wrote:
> >
> > St Rep Ammons urged attendees at the Democratic Luncheon Sunday to file
> witness slips on both HB 1633 and SB 9.
> > Deb
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > On May 21, 2019, at 10:09 AM, David Green via Peace <
> peace at lists.chambana.net> wrote:
> >
> >> I have submitted my witness slip, and contacted both state rep.offices.
> >>
> >> I doubt that Carol Ammons will step up and make a fuss about this bill.
> She has little or no history of challenging Madigan. I will be happy to be
> proved wrong.
> >>
> >> Scott Bennett is a prosecutor who like to opportunistically grandstand
> about sexual predators and to attend police-supportive functions. His
> appointment as state senator was a matter of cronyism. I also doubt that he
> will oppose this bill; I will be happy to be proved wrong.
> >>
> >> DG
> >>
> >> On Tue, May 21, 2019 at 8:23 AM Robert Naiman via Peace <
> peace at lists.chambana.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> 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 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.
> >>
> >> Then come back to this email and...
> >>
> >> Click here to file a witness slip to OPPOSE the bill in Committee
> >>
> >> 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... and then return to this email and click here..... 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).
> >>
> >> 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.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> 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.
> >>
> >> Click here to file a witness slip to OPPOSE the bill in Committee
> >>
> >> 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
> >>
> >> Eat Pray Protest by David Geitgey Sierralupe
> >>
> >> Repeal the Patriot Act by DRAD staff
> >>
> >> Donate
> >> Get in Touch: hello at rightsanddissent.org | 202.552.7408
> >>
> >> Donations to DRAD are tax-deductible. Our EIN is 27-0042821
> >>
> >> We will never, ever share your info with anyone. NEVER.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Peace mailing list
> >> Peace at lists.chambana.net
> >> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/peace
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Peace mailing list
> >> Peace at lists.chambana.net
> >> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/peace
> > _______________________________________________
> > Peace-discuss mailing list
> > Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> > https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/peace-discuss
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.chambana.net/pipermail/peace/attachments/20190521/415bdd07/attachment.html>