Portland (OR) chapter starts postcard campaign against S 1959

David Delk writes from Portland:

The Portland Chapter has a post card campaign opposing the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act. We had a table at this weekend's World Without War rally (it rained but still had about 5000 people - small for Portland but still respectable) and handed out post cards addressed to both our Senators. We got about 75 pair back. We're scheduling meetings with senate staff, and we'll present the postcards then. In the meantime, we will continue to get more.

You can read the postcard text below, and can use it for your own campaign.

Dear Senator:
I am concerned that a stage is being set and that once in place, a play similar to that which allowed Senator Joe McCarthy to stifle political discussion in America will begin again.

The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act passed the House with only 6 "nay" votes because it is only supposed to "study" the problem.

Formed in 1937, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was only supposed to "investigate" the KKK and the rising Nazi threat. HUAC never did "investigate" their target, instead focusing on the political dissidents of the day.

By the time HUAC's reign of terror ended it had created an atmosphere of fear and political conformity that destroyed the lives and careers of thousands of Americans and threatened democracy itself.

We already have laws which appropriately punish action. The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act seeks to control thought and suppress all dissent. VOTE NO ON "THE VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT."

Signed

(The Portland chapter also distributed this article by chapter member Jules Boykoff, a political science professor at Pacific University, which appeared on Commondreams.org in November.)