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

Wed May 22 11:24:01 UTC 2019

Me too to all of this said below (including submitting witness slip).  Too bad there wasn't one when the legislature rubber stamped the AIPAC bill 2 years ago (as if dissent would have made a difference).

Midge

-----Original Message-----
From: David Green via Peace-discuss <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
To: Robert Naiman <naiman at justforeignpolicy.org>; Peace-discuss <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
Cc: peace <peace at lists.chambana.net>
Sent: Tue, May 21, 2019 10:10 am
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] [Peace] Defending Rights & Dissent: slip now to stop Illinois anti-protest bill

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>

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 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. 
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 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! 
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 Photo Credits: 

 People over pipelines by Fibonacci Blue  

 Eat Pray Protest by David Geitgey Sierralupe 

 Repeal the Patriot Act by DRAD staff 
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 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. 

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