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ww.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2005/230805utahrave.htm -video of military-style police raid in Salt Lake City, Utah.related to last paragraph.
Dance Scene Suppression
by Chizuru Pritchard
What is a Rave? In literal terms, a rave "is an all-night dance event where DJs and other performers play electronic dance music and rave music either in venues or outdoors" ("Rave." Wikipedia. 29 Sept. 2006. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. 30 Sept. 2006. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rave>.). To the new generation familiar with this term, it is “a unique cultural phenomenon, one which involves a new electronic musical form, and the ritualistic, neo-tribalistic gathering of people who dance all night to achieve a collective trance state...Some people unfamiliar with rave culture think that this phenomenon simply occurs if ravers take enough ecstasy. This belief lies far from the truth...many people describe complete psychedelic trance experiences they have had at raves on nothing more than mineral water." (Levy, Brooke A. “When Cute Acronyms Happen To Bad Legislation: The Reducing Americans’ Vulnerability to Ecstasy “RAVE” Act.” Northwestern University Law Review. Chicago: Spring 2004.Vol.98, Iss. 3; pg. 1251, 39 pgs). No matter what the real definition of a rave is, today, rave has also taken up the meaning "potentially busted for no reason". In 2003, an 11th hour amendment to the AMBER Alert bill, more commonly known as The Rave Act, made business owners liable for the drug law violations of their patrons, even when they take steps to prevent on-site drug use. The Rave Act was supposedly created in response to the popular use of MDMA or ecstasy at raves, but due to lacking specifications in The Act, it has turned into a very dangerous weapon. Because innocent people are being punished for crimes they didn't commit, because legitimist parties with permits have been shut down forcibly, and because it suppresses dance culture, the Rave Act of 2002 is so general that it is easily and frequently abused.
I understand that the supporters of the Rave Act believe that suppressing raves help combats the War Against Drugs because drugs like cocaine, speed, and MDMA which were deeply rooted in the older club scene. In fact, studies have shown that New Orleans hospitals haven't seen a single person suffering from the repercussions of ecstasy since the Act passed. It seems sensible to any parent to want to protect their children, to defend them as much as possible since a 17-year old girl passed away in 1998 in New Orleans due to heatstroke caused by not hydrating herself after taking ecstasy.
True, there have been some deaths associated with MDMA, yet it is impossible to overdose on ecstasy. Usually, these deaths have been a result of heatstroke from dancing for long periods of time in hot clubs without replenishing lost body fluids. Also, contrary to popular belief, ingesting MDMA does not create holes in the brain. Only approximately 2 per 100,000 users have extreme negative reactions resulting in death (Erowid. "MDMA Effects." Vaults of Erowid. 6th, July 2006. Erowid. 01 October 2006. <www.erowid.org/chemicals/...s.shtml>.). The sudden decline in emergency room visits due to ecstasy "overdose" may be due to ecstasy awareness and organizations like Dance Safe and their participation in educating those at raves about the hazards of not hydrating oneself upon taking ecstasy. Organizations like Dance Safe also go to raves and parties and test the purity of ecstasy pills to avoid the dangers of other street substance might be in the pills.
Because of The Rave Act, those who have nothing to do with drugs are being imprisoned. The Rave Act allows the shutting down of dance and concert venues which young people attend. It allows imprisonment of not only the drug user, but the promoter of the show and the venue owner. Imagine this. A teenager of a household conducts a party with music where a joint is being passed around. If the police decided to raid the party on suspicion of drugs, not only will everyone who was involved with the joint get in trouble, but that teenager's parents will potentially face 20 years imprisonment go to prison plus a civil liability clause of $250,000 or more, and a possible $500,000 fine ("Sec. 4. Civil Penalty And Equitable Relief for Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises". The RAVE Act of 2002 (S.2633) Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act. 2004. Electronic Music Defense & Education Fund. 29 Sept 2006. <www.emdef.org/s2633/>.). Even Senator Lealy dropped his support as co-sponsor of the bill because he realized it was too general ("Senator Leahy has dropped his support for the RAVE Act" . DanceSafe.org. 20 September, 2006. Dance Safe USA. 1 Oct. 2006. <www.dancesafe.org/articles/...ve.php.>).
Parties which have appropriate permits on private property have been forcibly shut down. The most recent, extreme example of this occurrence took place at Salt Lake City, Utah on August 20th, 2005. The Utah county sheriff department conducted a stake out on a site which was promoted to be a huge "album-release party". At about eleven-thirty at night, SWAT Team agents in full military combat regalia stormed the rave. The only amateur video from the scene shows an estimated 90 SWAT police. "Armed with assault rifles and tear gas, the police used dogs to sweep the crowd for narcotics. At least one helicopter was used in the operation." ("Utah Rave Raided by SWAT Team". Drug Policy News. 22, Aug. 2005. Drug Policy Alliance. 28 Sept 2006 <www.drugpolicy.org/news/822...e.cfm>.). The SWAT went up to the performing DJs and yelled at them to "Shut it down now!" and "get out now, or I'll kick your ass in jail". “A first hand account from a DJ booked to play at the party stated that while police were arresting a man accused of narcotic possession, the suspect was beaten to the ground and continually "kicked in the ribs" by 4 armed "soldiers" dressed in camouflage.” (“SWAT Team Police Use Force at Utah Rave Party.” ProgressiveU. 22 Aug. 2005. ProgressiveU. 28 Sept. 2006. <www.progressiveu.org/node/639>.) The promoter says the party took place on private property with appropriate permits yet the police say otherwise. This even took place on PRIVATE PROPERTY, Child’s Ranch. The owner of the property who resided near the event stated that she has had at least one previous lawsuit with police over a similar event.
Dance Scene Suppression
by Chizuru Pritchard
What is a Rave? In literal terms, a rave "is an all-night dance event where DJs and other performers play electronic dance music and rave music either in venues or outdoors" ("Rave." Wikipedia. 29 Sept. 2006. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. 30 Sept. 2006. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rave>.). To the new generation familiar with this term, it is “a unique cultural phenomenon, one which involves a new electronic musical form, and the ritualistic, neo-tribalistic gathering of people who dance all night to achieve a collective trance state...Some people unfamiliar with rave culture think that this phenomenon simply occurs if ravers take enough ecstasy. This belief lies far from the truth...many people describe complete psychedelic trance experiences they have had at raves on nothing more than mineral water." (Levy, Brooke A. “When Cute Acronyms Happen To Bad Legislation: The Reducing Americans’ Vulnerability to Ecstasy “RAVE” Act.” Northwestern University Law Review. Chicago: Spring 2004.Vol.98, Iss. 3; pg. 1251, 39 pgs). No matter what the real definition of a rave is, today, rave has also taken up the meaning "potentially busted for no reason". In 2003, an 11th hour amendment to the AMBER Alert bill, more commonly known as The Rave Act, made business owners liable for the drug law violations of their patrons, even when they take steps to prevent on-site drug use. The Rave Act was supposedly created in response to the popular use of MDMA or ecstasy at raves, but due to lacking specifications in The Act, it has turned into a very dangerous weapon. Because innocent people are being punished for crimes they didn't commit, because legitimist parties with permits have been shut down forcibly, and because it suppresses dance culture, the Rave Act of 2002 is so general that it is easily and frequently abused.
I understand that the supporters of the Rave Act believe that suppressing raves help combats the War Against Drugs because drugs like cocaine, speed, and MDMA which were deeply rooted in the older club scene. In fact, studies have shown that New Orleans hospitals haven't seen a single person suffering from the repercussions of ecstasy since the Act passed. It seems sensible to any parent to want to protect their children, to defend them as much as possible since a 17-year old girl passed away in 1998 in New Orleans due to heatstroke caused by not hydrating herself after taking ecstasy.
True, there have been some deaths associated with MDMA, yet it is impossible to overdose on ecstasy. Usually, these deaths have been a result of heatstroke from dancing for long periods of time in hot clubs without replenishing lost body fluids. Also, contrary to popular belief, ingesting MDMA does not create holes in the brain. Only approximately 2 per 100,000 users have extreme negative reactions resulting in death (Erowid. "MDMA Effects." Vaults of Erowid. 6th, July 2006. Erowid. 01 October 2006. <www.erowid.org/chemicals/...s.shtml>.). The sudden decline in emergency room visits due to ecstasy "overdose" may be due to ecstasy awareness and organizations like Dance Safe and their participation in educating those at raves about the hazards of not hydrating oneself upon taking ecstasy. Organizations like Dance Safe also go to raves and parties and test the purity of ecstasy pills to avoid the dangers of other street substance might be in the pills.
Because of The Rave Act, those who have nothing to do with drugs are being imprisoned. The Rave Act allows the shutting down of dance and concert venues which young people attend. It allows imprisonment of not only the drug user, but the promoter of the show and the venue owner. Imagine this. A teenager of a household conducts a party with music where a joint is being passed around. If the police decided to raid the party on suspicion of drugs, not only will everyone who was involved with the joint get in trouble, but that teenager's parents will potentially face 20 years imprisonment go to prison plus a civil liability clause of $250,000 or more, and a possible $500,000 fine ("Sec. 4. Civil Penalty And Equitable Relief for Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises". The RAVE Act of 2002 (S.2633) Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act. 2004. Electronic Music Defense & Education Fund. 29 Sept 2006. <www.emdef.org/s2633/>.). Even Senator Lealy dropped his support as co-sponsor of the bill because he realized it was too general ("Senator Leahy has dropped his support for the RAVE Act" . DanceSafe.org. 20 September, 2006. Dance Safe USA. 1 Oct. 2006. <www.dancesafe.org/articles/...ve.php.>).
Parties which have appropriate permits on private property have been forcibly shut down. The most recent, extreme example of this occurrence took place at Salt Lake City, Utah on August 20th, 2005. The Utah county sheriff department conducted a stake out on a site which was promoted to be a huge "album-release party". At about eleven-thirty at night, SWAT Team agents in full military combat regalia stormed the rave. The only amateur video from the scene shows an estimated 90 SWAT police. "Armed with assault rifles and tear gas, the police used dogs to sweep the crowd for narcotics. At least one helicopter was used in the operation." ("Utah Rave Raided by SWAT Team". Drug Policy News. 22, Aug. 2005. Drug Policy Alliance. 28 Sept 2006 <www.drugpolicy.org/news/822...e.cfm>.). The SWAT went up to the performing DJs and yelled at them to "Shut it down now!" and "get out now, or I'll kick your ass in jail". “A first hand account from a DJ booked to play at the party stated that while police were arresting a man accused of narcotic possession, the suspect was beaten to the ground and continually "kicked in the ribs" by 4 armed "soldiers" dressed in camouflage.” (“SWAT Team Police Use Force at Utah Rave Party.” ProgressiveU. 22 Aug. 2005. ProgressiveU. 28 Sept. 2006. <www.progressiveu.org/node/639>.) The promoter says the party took place on private property with appropriate permits yet the police say otherwise. This even took place on PRIVATE PROPERTY, Child’s Ranch. The owner of the property who resided near the event stated that she has had at least one previous lawsuit with police over a similar event.
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