Reuters
Wednesday, April 2, 2003; 9:02 PM
By Lee Douglas
PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - 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.
The bill's few public supporters say police need stronger
laws to break up
protests that have created havoc in cities like Portland, where thousands
of people have marched and demonstrated against war in Iraq since
last fall.
" We need some additional tools to control protests that shut down
the
city," said Lars Larson, a conservative radio talk show host
who has
aggressively stumped for the bill.
Larson said protesters should be
protected by free speech laws, but not
given free reign to hold up ambulances or frighten people out of
their
daily routines, adding that police and the court system could be
trusted to
see the difference.
" Right now a group of people can get together and go downtown and
block a
freeway," Larson said. "You need a tool to deal with that."
The bill contains automatic sentences of 25 years to life for the
crime of
terrorism.
Critics of the bill say its language is so vague it erodes
basic freedoms
in the name of fighting terrorism under an extremely broad definition.
" Under the original version (terrorism) meant essentially a food fight,"
said Andrea Meyer of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which
opposes the bill.
Police unions and minority groups also oppose the bill for fear
it could
have a chilling effect on relations between police and poor people,
minorities, children and "vulnerable" populations.
Legislators say the bill stands little chance of passage.
"
I just don't think this bill is ever going to get out of committee," said
Democratic Senator Vicki Walker, one of four members on the six-person
panel who have said they oppose the legislation.
© 2003 Reuters
