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by eeyore
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 10:48 AM
oregon wants to jail protesters as terrorists under proposed law
let's show oregon the way on this one. we aren't terrorists. let's make sure this thing never passes.
Oregon Law Would Jail War Protesters as Terrorists Wed Apr 2, 9:01 PM ET Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!
By Lee Douglas
PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - An Oregon anti-terrorism bill would jail street-blocking protesters for at least 25 years in a thinly veiled effort to discourage anti-war demonstrations, critics say.
Latest news: · Freed U.S. Soldier Stable, Being Treated in Germany Reuters - 11 minutes ago · Administrator Ready for Postwar Iraq AP - 12 minutes ago · Rumsfeld Complains Syria Still Helping Iraq Reuters - 14 minutes ago Special Coverage
The bill has met strong opposition but lawmakers still expect a debate on the definition of terrorism and the value of free speech before a vote by the state senate judiciary committee (news - web sites), whose Chairman, Republican Senator John Minnis, wrote the proposed legislation.
Dubbed Senate Bill 742, it identifies a terrorist as a person who "plans or participates in an act that is intended, by at least one of its participants, to disrupt" business, transportation, schools, government, or free assembly.
The bill's few public supporters say police need stronger laws to break up protests that have created havoc in cities like Portland, where thousands of people have marched and demonstrated against war in Iraq (news - web sites) since last fall.
"We need some additional tools to control protests that shut down the city," said Lars Larson, a conservative radio talk show host who has aggressively stumped for the bill.
Larson said protesters should be protected by free speech laws, but not given free reign to hold up ambulances or frighten people out of their daily routines, adding that police and the court system could be trusted to see the difference.
"Right now a group of people can get together and go downtown and block a freeway," Larson said. "You need a tool to deal with that."
The bill contains automatic sentences of 25 years to life for the crime of terrorism.
Critics of the bill say its language is so vague it erodes basic freedoms in the name of fighting terrorism under an extremely broad definition.
"Under the original version (terrorism) meant essentially a food fight," said Andrea Meyer of the American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites) (ACLU), which opposes the bill.
Police unions and minority groups also oppose the bill for fear it could have a chilling effect on relations between police and poor people, minorities, children and "vulnerable" populations.
Legislators say the bill stands little chance of passage.
"I just don't think this bill is ever going to get out of committee," said Democratic Senator Vicki Walker, one of four members on the six-person panel who have said they oppose the legislation.
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by john
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 1:05 PM
IF this bill were to get passed and become a law the speed to which it would be thrown out would rival the speed of light. I cannot believe someone would say civil disobedience is equal to a terrorist act. I might be able to see an increase in penalty for failing to disperse and causing the delay in an emergency response, which caused death or increased suffering, but other than that it would be a huge stretch. Certainly one I would not want to make.
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by WACKAPROTESTOR
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 1:11 PM
I am totally against this bill. If the ploice have trouble with protestors blocking traffic, destroying property, threating other citizens or otherwise breaking the law, just shoot the fucking bastards
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by Diogenes
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 1:30 PM
Methinks someone is trying to gauge public opposition to this type of inroad on our Bill of Rights.
Oregon has long seemed to be the testing ground for neo-totalitarian concepts. For example:
Portland's Urban Growth Boundary - which prevents home building outside of the area defined by the Government. Result is forced Urbanization making people "easier to control".
The war against the Klamath Basin Farmers by cutting off their vital Water Supplies - resulting in forcing people off of small "independent" Family Farms. The far right actually hates small farms and small entrepreneurs. They are too independent and resist the imposition of the brand of "compassionate" Neo-Fascism epitomized by the Bush Junta.
Adding fuel to the fire - if you own a Small Family Farm or Small Business you are much more likely to get Audited by the IRS. A few years back Agents at the Western Regional IRS headquarters were quoted as bragging about how they were intentionally going after small businesses.
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by systemfailure
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 2:32 PM
nazistatement.jpgb8ked7.jpg, image/jpeg, 576x288
Heres a little history lesson for our Online sheep.
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by Oregon - Home of the Nazi Legislators
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 3:55 PM
hitler.gif, image/png, 128x128
What the fuck? Hmmmm....OK....so this means if some of the dimwitted neocons and right wingers disburb a peace demonstration, that they get charged with treason? Oh, this should be fun.
Hmmmm.....how about a strike....do they get to arrest anyone picking an employer? Until I read this story on the net, I swore it was still April 1st.
Way to go Oregon: Are you also going to erect some monuments to Asscroft while you are at it?
Where the hell were the heads of these asshole legislators? OK...obvious...up their asses looking for day light. (Just like Bush.)
Man...this is scary shit.
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by Reminder
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 5:01 PM
2003 Pending – The Patriot Act II or The Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003 currently in Congress – the same Congress who passed the Patriot Act.
“Americans could have their citizenship revoked, if found to have contributed "material support" to organizations deemed by the government, even retroactively, to be "terrorist."
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by systemfailure
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 5:15 PM
Whenever we liberals have nothing intelligent to say or add to the conversation, which is 100% of the time, we can always resort to making connect-the-unrelated-dots comparisons between Hitler and Bush, and we can cry and moan and bitch when law enforcement does things to prevent us from destruction of property, defacing public and private property, building and detonating explosives, or otherwise distrupting and endangering the public since all we want to do is a few minor militant actions to bring attention to our cause which we are unable to do otherwise because no one wants to listen to us.
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by SYSTEMFAILURE IS A MENTAL FAILURE
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 6:39 PM
labushheart.jpg, image/jpeg, 103x103
Your point, Nazi Explorer?
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by Pissed Off in Ohio
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 6:46 PM
that wasn't the real systemfailure. He apparently has an admirer. That's how he shows his love by saying some crap about liberals and 100% of the time. I guess he has a thing for me too (sorry dude but thats not my thing) cause he did it to my nick earlier.
Very flattering though. If that guy says crap like that in your name it generally means you're on the right track.
And yes. Bush does suck. Sucks like a giant spinning vortex of suck. God damn, how does Bush suck so much without imploding....
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by systemfailure
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 6:48 PM
Anyone who visits here regularly knows i didnt write the above post.
Luckily, i got this posers IP number and will be visiting him shortly (and anonymosly) This correlation between Bush and Hitler is very similar indeed. (im not even counting the bushs' grandfather financing him either). SO anyways my tracking will be posted later to let you all know who the poser is. Myself and Diogenes usually have the same convictions dealing with freedom, liberty and and the American constitution. Im sure Diogenes knows it wasnt me that wrote the bullshit... BUSH IS A MODERN HITLER be back soon with the info...
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by TO: SYSTEMFAILURE
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 6:52 PM
Glad to hear that you are not some right-wing nut case. Wow....that's not nice when someone takes over your handle and does shit like that.
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by systemfailure
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 6:55 PM
ps thanks for the defense POIO
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by Pissed Off in Ohio
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 7:04 PM
Typically unnecessary but BUSHSUX guy seemed confused.
(btw people watch out for the setup with these gay bush/binladen pics... smells like a smear campaign waiting to happen. Whoever is posting them in the name of peace needs to stop or be obviously part of the problem)
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by Joel Gallob
Sunday, Apr. 06, 2003 at 8:57 PM
gallob@newportnet.com 541-265-8571 ext 223
I am the reporter who first wrote about SB 742. It was both gratifying and frightening that a reporter for a small-county newspaper, The Newport News-Times, could break a story of such importance. The silence of the mainstream press was deafening. It took an aroused citizenry, through a number of Bill of Rights Defense Committees, the local Green Prty, the ACLU and others--and my story on SB 742 (and several other, if lesser, anti-civil liberties bills) --to (we hope!) stop this bill. Eventually about 100 people went to Salem, the stte capital, to testify against the bill. Then, the mainstream media picked up on it. Now, Senator Minnis has amended the bill to merely criminalize violence. It still says nothing about any intent to cause widespread fear--the very ehart of terrorism. And it merely creates long jail sentences for acts that area already illegal under Oregon law. It is probable the bill, even as amended will not pass, but one never knows for sure. A week ago, I got Governor Ted Kulongoski on record as opposing the bill, which I hope will help stop SB 742. In the meanwhile, I keep hoping Doonesbury will lampoon Senator Minnis, author of this abortion, so as to ensure the bill dies and is not resurrected.
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by Nice Reporting
Sunday, Apr. 06, 2003 at 9:51 PM
A question for Sen DeMinimus:
Isn't violence already a crime? Duh?
I hope the jerk gets voted out of office. Hmmmmm........seems to me that there is something just a bit un-Constitutional about criminalizing an exercise of the First Amendment right to speech. Wow....this guy is scary!!!!
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