http://www.raversonly.com

TO: ACLU Action Network Members
FR: Angela Colaiuta, National Field Organizer
DT: 9-05-02

A new kind of social event that mixes an electronic music concert,
light show and dancing--popularly known as raves--has been portrayed as
dangerous, sinister drug fests and the people who attend them as
criminals who only use the events to sell drugs to youth. Raves,
however, are a legitimate cultural event just like rock concerts, art
exhibitions and film screenings, and are an important outlet for youth
culture today.

In a misguided spin-off of the "War on Drugs," the Senate is
considering the Reducing Americans Vulnerability to Ecstasy (RAVE) Act,
S. 2633, legislation that targets raves and would impose huge fines and
even prison time on the owners of venues into which customers bring
controlled substances. No matter how much security event managers put
in place, they can be held responsible for the actions of just one
customer.

Holding club owners and promoters of raves criminally liable for what
some people may do at these events is no different from arresting the
stadium owners and promoters of a Rolling Stones concert or a rap show
because some concertgoers may be smoking or selling marijuana.

Take action! You can learn more and send a FREE FAX to your Senators
from our action alert at:

http://www.aclu.org/action/rave107.html