Wednesday, April 02, 2003

Oregon Law Would Jail War Protesters as Terrorists
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.

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, 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.

25 years in Jail? Come on. Can't we just make the protesters a target of ridicule? I wish the marchers would shut up with the war going on, but anyone who would propose such a law doesn’t understand the bill of rights. This is an example if how blind personal ambition without a proper education can create politicians that do us a disservice.

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