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Advocacy Blog
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Rally in Maine Protests Homegrown Terrorism Bill
S.1959, the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007" was the subject of a protest in Portland Maine. Sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the bill would set up a government commission to study U.S. based terrorism. The commission would examine and report on what the bill calls "violent radicalization," "homegrown terrorism" and "ideologically based violence."
The Portland Press Herald reports that the protesters are concerned about the bill's vague language that could lead to a violation of free speech rights. The speakers at the rally considered the proposal to be "reminiscent of the House Un-American Activities Commission, which investigated suspected Communists during the 1950s and is now seen widely as part of a shameful chapter in U.S. history."
Maureen Block, the rally's organizer, said the bill would use fear and intimidation to try to silence people whose views challenge authority. Shortly before the rally, Collins' office distributed a news release about the bill. The news release notes that the measure would not criminalize any behavior, but only study threats.
Read OMB Watch coverage of the bill here, "Study Commission or Thought Police?"
Posted by Amanda Adams
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