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Oppose Anti-Rave, Anti-Free Speech Bill
Why do our lawmakers find youth culture so frightening that they're trying to suspend the Constitution in order to shut it down? That's exactly what AB 1941 does: it picks out one type of speech event, a rave, and makes it harder to hold one than to hold another similar event, such as a folk music event or a jazz festival. It is not the government's job to judge what kind of music people should listen to, what kind of clothes and accessories they should wear, or what kind of dance party they can attend. Please tell your legislators that singling out youth culture won't solve social problems such as drug abuse and drug addiction. Oppose AB 1941. California doesn't belong in the business of picking people's cultural styles for them.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , AB 1941 singles out rave parties for differential treatment, but the government cannot be in the business of deciding what kind of parties it likes or what kind of music constitutes a "threat." That's unconstitutional and discriminatory. Electronic dance music events should not be singled out for a higher level of scrutiny and a more difficult permit process. Other events, such as a religious concert, would not trigger the same higher level of scrutiny and difficulty. AB 1941 also results in a vague, standardless process, a process which opens the door to abuses. It requires that promoters of a rave party "present evidence before the issuance of the permit showing that the promoter is sufficiently knowledgeable about illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia..." This requirement is so vague and broad that it gives no clear standard or guidance to the government officials granting permits, thus opening the door to arbitrary decisions and abuses. AB 1941 also imposes new liability burdens on event organizers, thus acting to chill this category of cultural event. Finally, Ab 1941 negatively affects organizations and individuals who seek to make the electronic music scene safer.
By targeting the common spaces created in a vibrant youth-driven culture, AB 1941 expresses society's ungrounded and unreasonable fear of youth and youth culture. Please oppose AB 1941: thousands and thousands of Californians attend these events and are looking to you to defend their First Amendment rights.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
AB 1941, motivated by fear and media hype, infringes on the basic rights of speech and assembly of those who attend rave parties. A law that singles out a particular style of expression or form of speech, dance, or culture is fundamentally wrong, because it denies to one group of people the same level of freedom that others enjoy.
Specifically, AB 1941:
--Unconstitutionally singles out electronic dance music events for a higher level of scrutiny and a more difficult permit process. Other events, such as a heavy metal party, or an acoustic concert would not trigger the same higher level of scrutiny and difficulty.
--Imposes unreasonable and vague standards. The bill requires that promoters of a rave party "present evidence before the issuance of the permit showing that the promoter is sufficiently knowledgeable about illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia..." This requirement is so vague and broad that it gives no clear standard or guidance to the government officials granting permits, thus opening the door to arbitrary decisions and abuses.
--Imposes liability on promoters that will chill the staging of electronic music events.
--Targets the common spaces created in a vibrant youth-driven culture. Though certainly people of all ages attend raves, the rave party is a space where youth can come together, but our culture's fear of youth makes it hostile to such assemblies.
There has been a growing law enforcement movement across the nation to crack down on raves and to control and shut down this unique cultural space. Police departments, federal legislators, and state legislatures have all begun to take steps toward criminalizing the rave scene.
