Tweet
taken from 365Mag (old Xpander)
this is certainly good to hear. its a step in some kind of good direction.
i believe one certain nyc superclub met its fate due to these kinds of circumstances over a period of time.
glad to hear it cant happen to any more.
Club promoters and event organisers alike have welcomed the news that US authorities have abandoned plans to make nightclub owners legally responsible for their customers' drug use. Civil liberties campaigners the Drugs Policy Alliance (DPA) have long since fought the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (also known as the RAVE Act).
The RAVE act has caused much controversy in the US since it was first passed by Congress in 2003, making promoters and venue owners liable for the drug offences of their customers. It centred around the key point that would have made it a federal crime to promote "any rave, dance, music, or other entertainment event, that takes place under circumstances where the promoter knows or reasonably ought to know that a controlled substance will be used or distributed". This sparked a grassroots campaign from clubbers and civil liberties activists, climaxing in a large-scale outdoor rally that included a DJ performance by Junior Vasquez outside Congress last year. Across the States, dozens of business owners and thousands of music fans signed petitions in opposition to both the Clean-Up Act and the Ecstasy Awareness Act.
Washington, DC based DPA director Bill Piper said "While there was much in the bill we liked, we opposed a key provision that would have punished nightclub owners and music promoters for their customers' drug use. Not only did the Clean-Up Act not pass last year, but earlier this month a new version of the Act was introduced that doesn't even contain the controversial provision. This is an enormous victory for the Alliance and our supporters; live music fans across the country; musicians, club owners and activists; and the Protect Live Music campaign," he added.
Austin-based DJ/producer D:Fuse has always made clear his opposition to the bill, "We're not advocating drug use, but let's get real, it's everywhere in society. This is draconian legislation that is really about taking everybody's freedom away."
It seems Congress has had a long-standing suspicion of electronic music. Aside from drug-issues, many European artists have endured rigorous homeland security screenings. On application for a work visa to play in the US recently Laurent Garnier claimed he was asked for proof that he owned his house, asked for bank statements and even mobile phone records. Intrusive measures such as these ultimately led to cancellation of his US tour. This U-turn by Congress, meanwhile, will be seen as a significant victory for club owners and clubbers alike all over the US.
The RAVE act has caused much controversy in the US since it was first passed by Congress in 2003, making promoters and venue owners liable for the drug offences of their customers. It centred around the key point that would have made it a federal crime to promote "any rave, dance, music, or other entertainment event, that takes place under circumstances where the promoter knows or reasonably ought to know that a controlled substance will be used or distributed". This sparked a grassroots campaign from clubbers and civil liberties activists, climaxing in a large-scale outdoor rally that included a DJ performance by Junior Vasquez outside Congress last year. Across the States, dozens of business owners and thousands of music fans signed petitions in opposition to both the Clean-Up Act and the Ecstasy Awareness Act.
Washington, DC based DPA director Bill Piper said "While there was much in the bill we liked, we opposed a key provision that would have punished nightclub owners and music promoters for their customers' drug use. Not only did the Clean-Up Act not pass last year, but earlier this month a new version of the Act was introduced that doesn't even contain the controversial provision. This is an enormous victory for the Alliance and our supporters; live music fans across the country; musicians, club owners and activists; and the Protect Live Music campaign," he added.
Austin-based DJ/producer D:Fuse has always made clear his opposition to the bill, "We're not advocating drug use, but let's get real, it's everywhere in society. This is draconian legislation that is really about taking everybody's freedom away."
It seems Congress has had a long-standing suspicion of electronic music. Aside from drug-issues, many European artists have endured rigorous homeland security screenings. On application for a work visa to play in the US recently Laurent Garnier claimed he was asked for proof that he owned his house, asked for bank statements and even mobile phone records. Intrusive measures such as these ultimately led to cancellation of his US tour. This U-turn by Congress, meanwhile, will be seen as a significant victory for club owners and clubbers alike all over the US.
this is certainly good to hear. its a step in some kind of good direction.
i believe one certain nyc superclub met its fate due to these kinds of circumstances over a period of time.
glad to hear it cant happen to any more.
)
Comment