Today, Georgia's SB469, the bill that seeks to ban picketing, passed a House committee. It has already passed the Senate. What we wrote about the other day, and what has been quite interesting about this issue, is that SB469 has brought together labor unions and the Tea Party, as well as the Occupy movement. They all agree it is an utter bastardization of American values and Democracy.
Now it gets even better as the Atlanta Tea Party has issued the following call to action and has invoked Martin Luther King. Take that, people who call the Tea Party racist.
Full PDF provided with the raw text of the portion concerning SB469 below. ObamaCare must also go down, according to this document :)
Tea Party
We need your help defeating two pieces of legislation sent from the Senate to the House, where they are now in the committee process. We are very disappointed these bills passed the Senate, and now we are calling on our House members to DEFEAT SB 448 and 469. The details are below. PLEASE contact your State House member today and contact the members of the Committees hearing these bills listed below. We will keep you informed with the progress. Thank you!
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SB 469 - THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS
SB 469 - Also sponsored by Senator Don Balfour claims it is geared toward stopping mass picketing on private property (event though we already have trespassing laws). The bill at face value, appears to be geared toward labor unions, but the devil is in the details... it clearly adds a "person or organization", which could include not only big labor, but also Tea Party activists, those protesting outside abortion clinics, or many other scenarios. Please see below...
Under Sec. 5, Church groups and neighborhood associations picketing to protest a strip club in their neighborhood would also be subject to prosecution for the conspiracy and for the criminal trespass itself. Others who conspired with”them in planning the protest who were not arrested at the site, would also be subject to criminal prosecution, including congregations. The penalty for criminal trespass is a misdemeanor - up to $1,000 fine and/or up to 12 months in jail; The penalty for conspiracy to commit criminal trespass would be a fine of up to $5,000 and/or up to 12 months in jail.
Environmentalists staging a protest in a neighborhood protesting a proposed landfill would be affected by SB 469 with greater criminal penalties for conspiracy and criminal trespass, and criminal penalties of up to $5,000 plus up to a year in jail against any individual or organization that participated in the conspiracy to commit criminal trespass - Sierra Club, Riverkeepers, etc. - even if they did not themselves criminally trespass.
Civil rights groups, anti-war protesters, and others would also be affected. Martin Luther King, lll has said of SB 469 that it would have stifled the civil rights movement in the 1960's if this had been law.
It should be pointed out that the Bill would limit peaceful non-violent protests. Nor would it be limited to "mass picketing.“
This is not a right or left issue, it is a right or wrong issue. We may not agree with the all of the politics listed in the scenarios above, but we will defend their right to speak and protest, because this is America. if we destroy the First Amendment, we cease to be a free nation.
We believe SB 469 is a gross violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution, and needs to be defeated. We will be testifying at the hearing today and will keep you informed!
Road to Repeal in Washington this weekend!
There is much excitement among activists going to the Tea Party Patriots Road To Repeal rally. Patriots from all over the US. will be attending and urging the repeal of ObamaCare. Buses are coming from many states to the rally. This is an event you will not want to miss. There are buses going to the rally from 3 different locations in Georgia at this time and there could be more added later on. You can get the latest on the rally at the Road To Repeal web site. If you put in your zip code under Register Today, you can see the buses that are leaving from your area.
http:lIwww.r0adt0repeal.corn/ Atlanta Tea Party has set up a text message alert system that will provide the latest updates of the rally. If you would like up to receive text alerts on your cell phone, please text keyword repeal to 28748.
BUS INFORMATION -
The ladies below have very good rates for their bus trips. They tell us they have planned very fun bus/hotel packages.
Metro Atlanta area - Contact Mary Adamski 770.880.4450 Towns County area - Contact Nighta Davis 770.713.17'6OSavannah area - Contact Eliabeth Mancha 912.596.5267
Thank you for all you do to funher the cause of freedom and good government. Together we are making a difference!
Sincerely,
Your Atlanta Tea Party Patriots Team in Georgia,Julianne, Debbie, and Jenny Beth***Typos are inevitable, so we apologize in advance!