DJ Dan Slams America's New RAVE Act
Author: Jonty Adderley (Skrufff.com)
Saturday, April 19, 2003
"I've even been wondering can we continue DJing at all, should I be going into real estate (selling property), or should I focus on production-" said Dan.
"Who knows how far it's gonna' go, it's like they're at war with us."
The new law hold club owners and promoters responsible for certain crimes committed by their customers, and means they could face 20 years in jail, if police discover any drug use at their events, irrespective whatever precautions they take.
Respected civil liberties campaigner Ethan Nadelmann, the Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, called for people to continue fighting against the law which was sneaked into a Child Abduction Bill last week by puritan politician Joseph Biden.
"One senator's pet issue made a mockery of the Democratic process, becoming law without any public hearing or opportunity for input whatsoever," said Mr Nadelmann.
"It gives heightened powers and discretion to prosecutors, who may use it to target events they personally don't like - such as Hip-Hop events and gay and lesbian fundraisers."
"It got slipped through in a bizarre way and club owners aren't really paying attention to how much it's going to affect them," DJ Dan agreed.
"It's not just a rave thing, it's an across-the-board law that will affect dance music and the livelihood of clubs in general. I cannot imagine that it can possibly last- it goes against the Constitution and it's appalling," he added.
Dan was speaking to Skrufff in a London hotel, alongside Sheffield duo Grandadbob, prior to going on to DJ at Fabric. The trio recently worked together on a filthy acid house style club EP called Disco Hertz which is coming out on Brit indie label Faith & Hope Records this June.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp-step=2&item=1581 ('Fax Attorney General Ashcroft here; We want him to know that he is not free to
shut down our dance clubs, our festivals and our freedoms')
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