To: The Pennsylvania State Senate
PA Senators, Don't Trample Our Constitutional Rights
Karen Feridun
We urge you to oppose two bills being reintroduced by Senator Mike Regan and Senator Scott Martin that seek to trample Pennsylvanians’ right to free speech, right to free association, their property rights, and their environmental rights. The bills are constitutionally suspect and could have far-reaching effects on protest, which has long been a cornerstone of our democracy.
Senator Regan’s bill (a reintroduction of 2017-2018’s SB 652) would expand the scope of criminal trespass in Pennsylvania and impose harsh penalties on peaceful protesters, particularly those fighting to protect and preserve their environment and the health and safety of their families from the development of oil and gas infrastructure. The bill would turn peaceful protest at “critical infrastructure” sites into a 2nd-degree felony on par with sexual assault or aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A repeat offense would constitute a first-degree felony on par with kidnapping, rape, and murder.
Senator Martin’s bill, SB323, (a reintroduction of 2017-2018’s SB 754) would impose financial burdens on residents for public safety costs associated with public, free speech demonstrations.
Uphold our democratic values and constitutional rights by refraining from co-sponsoring this legislation and by voting NO if it’s brought up for a vote.
Senator Regan’s bill (a reintroduction of 2017-2018’s SB 652) would expand the scope of criminal trespass in Pennsylvania and impose harsh penalties on peaceful protesters, particularly those fighting to protect and preserve their environment and the health and safety of their families from the development of oil and gas infrastructure. The bill would turn peaceful protest at “critical infrastructure” sites into a 2nd-degree felony on par with sexual assault or aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A repeat offense would constitute a first-degree felony on par with kidnapping, rape, and murder.
Senator Martin’s bill, SB323, (a reintroduction of 2017-2018’s SB 754) would impose financial burdens on residents for public safety costs associated with public, free speech demonstrations.
Uphold our democratic values and constitutional rights by refraining from co-sponsoring this legislation and by voting NO if it’s brought up for a vote.
Why is this important?
Senators Regan and Martin didn't succeed in their attempts to stop pipeline protest last year, so they're reintroducing their ALEC-inspired bills again this year. Read the ALEC bill here: https://www.alec.org/model-policy/critical-infrastructure-protection-act/
ALEC, short for the Americal Legislative Exchange Council, is known as a bill mill for the far right. Versions of their anti-protest legislation have shown up in several states already. Read this account from Inside Climate News for more information. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22082018/pipeline-protest-laws-felony-free-speech-arrests-first-amendment-oklahoma-iowa-louisiana
Please sign and share our petition to let PA Senators know we expect them to protect our rights and oppose both bills.
ALEC, short for the Americal Legislative Exchange Council, is known as a bill mill for the far right. Versions of their anti-protest legislation have shown up in several states already. Read this account from Inside Climate News for more information. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22082018/pipeline-protest-laws-felony-free-speech-arrests-first-amendment-oklahoma-iowa-louisiana
Please sign and share our petition to let PA Senators know we expect them to protect our rights and oppose both bills.