To: The Pennsylvania State Senate
PA Senate, Protest Is Constitutionally Protected. Keep It That Way.
Karen Feridun
Senate Bill 887 is the latest version of ALEC-inspired legislation intended to quash peaceful pipeline protest in the name of protecting critical infrastructure. Don't trample this fundamental constitutional right. Vote NO on SB887.
Why is this important?
Last year, it was called SB652. We managed to run out the clock on its passage. Early this year, Senator Regan announced in a co-sponsorship memo that he was bringing it back. Nothing happened for months until just this week when he introduced the bill as SB887.
Its name is the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, something taken directly from the ALEC model bill from which much of the language of the bill was derived, as well. Several states have passed or moved similar bills. The provisions of the bill make acts of protest into 2nd-degree felonies on par with sexual assault. Repeat offenses are considered 1st-degree felonies on par with rape and murder. Murky language in the bill leaves the door open to things like discussing an upcoming protest to being considered conspiratorial acts that could be charged as felonies.
The Senate is on break right now, but will be back in session later this month. When they return, they will only be back in session 12 more days before the end of the year. We have a short window of time to stop this terrible bill. Please sign our petition and then call your state senator.
Its name is the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, something taken directly from the ALEC model bill from which much of the language of the bill was derived, as well. Several states have passed or moved similar bills. The provisions of the bill make acts of protest into 2nd-degree felonies on par with sexual assault. Repeat offenses are considered 1st-degree felonies on par with rape and murder. Murky language in the bill leaves the door open to things like discussing an upcoming protest to being considered conspiratorial acts that could be charged as felonies.
The Senate is on break right now, but will be back in session later this month. When they return, they will only be back in session 12 more days before the end of the year. We have a short window of time to stop this terrible bill. Please sign our petition and then call your state senator.