<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>Oregon - life imprisonment for protesting</title></head><body> <div><font face="Arial" size="-1"> </font><a href="http://www.aclu-or.org">http://www.aclu-or.org</a></div> <div><br></div> <div>></div> <div>> Dear friends:  If this bill, which is so dangerous to our basic</div> <div>> freedoms, can pass in Oregon, it can also happen in California, New<br> > York, and the entire country.  Wherever you live, I urge you to voice<br> > your opposition NOW to the Oregon senators listed later in this<br> > notice, and to forward this information to your network  I have<br> > included my own letter of protest to the Oregon senators at the</div> <div>> bottom. Feel free to use or adapt it as you like. --- Karil</div> <div>><br> > ===============<br> > From Tom Atlee:<br> ><br> > Dear friends,<br> ><br> > This is serious and urgent.  There is a clear and present danger to<br> > democracy in Oregon which could spread to other states.<br> ><br> > Senate Bill 742 proposed by Oregon State Senator Minnis (R-Dist. 25 /<br> > Fairview)(Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee) creates the crime<br> > of "terrorism" -- punishable by life imprisonment.  Senator Minnis<br> > defines "terrorism" so broadly that even being present at a<br> > demonstration that is in any way "disruptive" could result in life<br> > imprisonment.<br> ><br> > I have given the relevant sections of the bill below, as well as the<br> > link to the whole bill.  I have also provided information from the<br> > American Civil Liberties Union regarding this, including contact<br> > information for the relevant Oregon State Senators.<br> ><br> > Ever since laws began to be passed criminalizing "terrorism," I have<br> > been concerned that its definition would be expanded to include<br> > anything that authorities wished to suppress which could then be<br> > subject to extreme punishment, laying the groundwork for serious<br> > suppression. It seems that is now happening.  It must be<br> > energetically nipped in the bud if we are to prevent its spread.<br> ><br> > If this law passes in Oregon, it is highly likely that other states<br> > will pass similar laws, especially in the current political climate.<br> ><br> > I trust you will act if you feel so moved.  Whether you are an Oregon<br> > resident or not, you can express your dismay to the Oregon State<br> > Senators listed below.  If you are an Oregon resident you can, in<br> > addition, attend a hearing Monday morning Mar 24 in Salem, OR</div> <div>> (specifics below).</div> <div>></div> <div>> Coheartedly,</div> <div>> Tom</div> <div>></div> <div>></div> <div>> PS:  The law also sets aside (in terrorism cases) two other Oregon</div> <div>> laws which prevent police from (a) spying on innocent people and<br> > organizations and (b) apprehending people solely for immigration<br> > violations.<br> > _ _ _ _<br> ><br> > Excerpts from the proposed law:<br> ><br> > <a href="http://pub.das.state.or.us/LEG_BILLS/PDFs/SB742.pdf" >http://pub.das.state.or.us/LEG_BILLS/PDFs/SB742.pdf</a><font face="Arial" size="-1"><br> </font>> 72nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2003 Regular Session<br> > Senate Bill 742<br> > Sponsored by Senator MINNIS<br> ><br> > SUMMARY:  Creates crime of terrorism. Punishes by life imprisonment.<br> ><br> > SECTION 1.<br> ><br> > (1) A person commits the crime of terrorism if the person knowingly<br> > plans, participates in or carries out any act that is intended, by at<br> > least one of its participants, to disrupt:<br> > (a) The free and orderly assembly of the inhabitants of the State of Oregon;<br> > (b) Commerce or the transportation systems of the State of Oregon; or<br> > (c) The educational or governmental institutions of the State of<br> > Oregon or its inhabitants.<br> ><br> > (2) A person commits the crime of terrorism if the person conspires<br> > to do any of the activities described in subsection (1) of this<br> > section.<br> > ....<br> > (4)<br> > (a) A person convicted of terrorism shall be punished by imprisonment for<br> > life.<br> > (b) When a person is convicted of terrorism under this section, the<br> > court shall order that the person be confined for a minimum of 25<br> > years without possibility of parole, release to post-prison<br> > supervision, release on work release or any form of temporary leave<br> > or employment at a forest or work camp....<br> ><br> > _ _ _ _ _<br> ></div> <div>> An opportunity to make your opinions known:</div> <div><br></div> <x-sigsep><pre>-- </pre></x-sigsep> <div>Marta Russell<br> Los Angeles, CA<br> http://www.disweb.org</div> </body> </html>