Urgent Call to Action! Oppose Anti-protest HB1759!
We’re calling on all supporters to take steps to block HB1759, a bill that would suppress environmental free speech and organizer’s rights to protest fossil fuel projects in their communities.
WHAT IS HB1759?
HB1759 is a bill that increases criminal penalties for anyone entering or causing damage to “critical infrastructure facilities.” Which “facilities”are protected is vaguely defined in the bill’s language. Included (but not limited to) are petroleum and aluminum refineries, electrical power generating facilities, chemical, polymer, or rubber manufacturing facilities, water intake structures, ports, railroad switching yards, trucking terminals, gas processing plants, steelmaking facilities, natural gas distribution utility facilities, including but not limited to, pipeline interconnections, aboveground piping, and/or natural gas storage facilities, crude oil or refined products storage, coal mines, and so many more. This vague language means that organized actions resulting in minor damages, could be charged as felony offenses.
According to a fact sheet from the Illinois Environmental Council, under HB1759, the exact same act that is a misdemeanor on one side of a fence would be a felony on the other side. Something as minor as drawing on a building with a marker could result in felony charges punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
WHY OPPOSE HB1759?
Just for the record, there are already existing criminal penalties for intentional property damage incurred at organized actions. This bill presents itself as a solution to an unaddressed problem, when in actuality, it is increasing the severity of consequences for speaking out against unsustainable polluters. This is not only an effort to strengthen protection for private property, but a transparent attack on our community’s rights to organize, advocate for themselves, and speak out against environmental injustices.
One of the major proponents of this bill is an organization called American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), who receives significant funding from the gas and oil industries. According to the Illinois Environmental Council, ALEC’s involvement suggests the intention of this bill is to leverage it, like many other penalty enhancement laws, to disproportionately target Black and Brown people with harsher punishments and undermine progress on criminal justice reform efforts.
The Illinois Environmental Council goes on to state this bill will likely worsen the already excessive harshness with which our criminal justice system treats Black people and other people of color, who are disproportionately arrested for the type of low-level offenses that would have enhanced penalties under HB 1759. Black people are more than twice as likely to be arrested for vandalism and 70% more likely to be arrested for vagrancy than white people.
We need thousands of Illinoisans to contact their legislators in opposition of this bill and fill out witness slips in opposition of this bill’s passing. Continue reading for detailed steps on how to complete each action.
WAYS YOU CAN TAKE ACTION!
EMAIL YOUR LAWMAKERS (1 MINUTE TO COMPLETE)
Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) has a tool that allows you to send a letter to your representatives! All you need to do is put in your name and address, and you’ll get connected to your representative. IEC also provides a template, so all you need to do is find your representative and click, “Send!” Click here to send a letter to your representative.
FILE A WITNESS SLIP (3 MINUTES TO COMPLETE)
Click here to begin filling out your witness slip.
Before beginning, it’s recommend to create an account. You can do so by clicking the "log on" button on the very top right..While you don't have to do this, it will enable you to view or edit any slips you enter at a later time.
Under Section I. Identification, input your address or information. If you are filing as an individual, put your home address. If you are affiliated with an organization, but not authorized to represent it, you might include the information under "Firm/Business."
Under Section II. Representation, it is recommended that you enter "self" or NA, unless you are authorized to represent an organization.
Under Section III. Position, be sure to click "Opponent."
Under Section IV. Testimony, click "Record of Appearance Only."
After completing these two actions, please share these calls to action broadly! This bill goes to committee hearing this Tuesday, March 16th.