By David Chang
DAILY BRUIN STAFF
dchang@media.ucla.edu
Reducing Americans’ Vulnerability to Ecstasy. The
intention of the RAVE Act may be thought noble by those who drafted
it, but opponents of the new law are concerned about its potential
borderline unconstitutional application.
The RAVE Act, which was passed in April, allows the federal
government to prosecute promoters of events and property owners if
a drug-related offense is committed on their premises. Convictions
could result in a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, $500,000 in
fines, and business or property confiscation.
In an attempt to demonstrate to political leaders that civil
liberties will not be trampled on without a stand, the Dance And
Nightlife Coalition of Electronic Music has organized a rally in
front of the Westwood Federal Building. In addition to speeches by
members of the electronic dance community, Richard
“Humpty” Vission, DEEPSKY, Steve Loria, Liza
Richardson, Machete and DJ Motiv8 will be spinning on Saturday from
1 to 8 p.m.
“The idea of the event is not to be so much against the
RAVE Act as it is to be for the dance music scene ““ getting
people involved in the political process,” said Susan
Mainzer, the co-founder of Green Galactic, a marketing and
production media company specializing in youth culture, and an
active member in the fight against the crackdown on raves and other
dance events.
“We want to show the government that they’re being
watched, and we’re paying attention to the application of
this law. They can’t just go around busting people because
they don’t like their events,” she said.
“We’re holding the government to a higher standard of
prosecution.”
“It’s just ridiculous. Any event, any location, any
illegal drug, the promoter is liable. The federal government
hasn’t been able to get rid of drugs in this country; Why
should individual promoters of events be expected to adequately
have zero-tolerance events? It’s just not realistic given the
climate we live in,” Mainzer said.
The main man behind Power 106’s popular radio mix show
“Powertools,” Richard “Humpty” Vission is a
staunch supporter of the electronic music movement and believes the
attack on rave culture stems from the lawmakers’ fear of what
they do not understand.
“Of course I’m going to be biased since I work in
the industry, but I think there’s a generation gap
problem,” Vission said. “My mom’s parents
didn’t understand Elvis. They thought he was the
devil.”
According to Vission, the electronic music culture has received
a bad rap because the media has shifted the public’s focus
squarely on drug use at raves.
“The news blows things way out of proportion,”
Vission said. “There’s the same amount of drugs at a
Linkin Park concert, but all everybody wants to talk about is
raves. (And) people don’t look at the positives. This music
promotes unity, not violence. When was the last time a fight broke
out at a rave event?”
What’s next for promoters and ravers? Both Mainzer and
Vission are staying hopeful and don’t foresee a drastic
downward spiral in the popularity of rave events.
“There’ll be fewer massive events,” Vission
said. “Events are already moving to the clubs. They have more
of a controlled environment and more security. Plus, clubs pay
taxes.”
Mainzer points out that the RAVE Act will not shut down
currently operating clubs, but it might discourage new clubs from
opening.
“It’s really going to depend on how they apply the
law,” she said. “If they apply the law to promoters who
are actually dealing drugs, that’s great. If there are
promoters who are actually drug dealers, they should be arrested
and go to jail. But if they just use it to shut down events that
they don’t like, then it’s a constitutional
problem.”
DANCE Music presents Show Our Strength: Freedom To Dance 2 at
the Westwood Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd. on Saturday,
May 31 from 1 to 8 p.m. The event is free.