The board of directors for the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (ACSOL) has decided to withdraw its support from the vigil planned for Washington, D.C., in March 2023. The decision is based upon a belief held by a majority of board members that it is no longer safe to conduct the vigil given the highly polarized environment in the nation’s capitol.
The ACSOL board of directors did not, however, withdraw its support for the conference to be held in the Washington, D.C., area on March 5 and March 6, 2023.
The original purpose of the vigil was to educate the U.S. Supreme Court as well as the public regarding the significant harm caused by the court’s decision issued in 2003, Smith v. Doe, that declared that registration is not punishment and therefore new registration laws could be applied retroactively. Subsequent to that decision, governments at every level — city, county, state and federal — have passed new laws and applied them retroactively to the detriment of almost 1 million people required to register and their families.
The 20th anniversary of Smith v. Doe will take place on March 5, 2023.
I disagree with the Board’s position. I was very much looking forward to this event and to taking the most public of stands in opposition to the registry and injustice. If we will only do so when we are guaranteed our safety, then our commitment to this cause is rather less than the imperative of justice demands. If we are to wait until polarization run less high then we will be making the decision to never act. The Founders had a clear view of the necessity in taking risks. Do we demand a risk-free movement?
Some quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. about civil and moral rights concerning humanity during a time of social and civil upheaval when you could be beaten or killed just because your skin was a different color.
The american patriot Patrick Henry said before he went to war in the american revolution “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
Henry David Thoreau “The path of least resistance makes crooked rivers and crooked men.”
People die every day standing for what is right in the face of what is wrong!
It’s been going on for thousands of years and because of the bravery of those people, we are americans.
And you ACSOL????
ACSOL New Slogan for 2023-
“Don’t Show Up, Don’t Stand Up, Don’t Speak up!”
This is a sad decision. This organization is way off track lately. Might be time for new leadership.
I am normally a full-fledged pessimist. I never thought Roe v Wade would be overturned. Everyone knew it was bad law and unconstitutional, but public sentiment was in favor of keeping it. I am encouraged that the Justices went against popular sentiment to overturn it.
Everyone (who has ever studied it or looked into it) knows that Smith v Doe is really bad law and certainly unconstitutional (as evidenced by the horrendous monster [registries] it allowed to be created) but the (uneducated, uninformed, emotional) public is probably 98% in favor of keeping it.
I optimistically (a rarity) feel that if a good case were able to be made before this particular Supreme Court, they would have to overturn Smith v Doe based on the vast misinformation that was used to make the decision and the obvious unconstitutionality of it. It would be the height of hypocrisy to leave Smith v Doe as is, after overturning Roe v Wade.
I’m not a lawyer, I hate politics, and I admit to being less than well-informed when it comes to legal matters, but in this one instance, I am hopeful.
I still have my hotel reservations for DC in March. I hope I can attend the conference, and if it looks like a safe number of people will be on the steps of the Supreme Court peacefully, I’d like to join them.
A very wise woman has repeatedly told us to “Show Up, Stand Up and Speak Up”.
It is not always comfortable, nor easy, nor without danger to do so.But it is needful!
This march is necessary because the tide is just starting to turn. I believe that we truly need this momentum.
It is not always comfortable, nor easy, nor without danger to “Show Up, Stand Up and Speak Up”. But, surely, Janice Bellucci (and her steadfast crowd) does not shrink away!!
Respectfully,
Where is a safe place for a registrant or their families? I understand the need to be safe, sad to think that stand up, speak up can only be done in the absence of risk. I’m disappointed in ACSOL decision and I hope the board at least supports the conference
A shame that the vitriol coming from politicians has created such a hostile situation that it’s not practically possible for groups to hold events like this to petition for change. Sounds like the dark side is winning in their bid to shut down all opposition as they continue marching towards their goal of ultimate power.
I was wondering about the vigil and how it was gonna go down, I’m not surprised ACSOL took a step back affair that riot at the nations capital they would’ve did to us with they should of done to all those People who stormed the nations capital.
Politician like AOC from New York is still talking about what happened every day on her Instagram so yeah they’re still paranoid it’s just not a good idea right now.
We still should have a vigil though we should do it at the California state capital we got the numbers and the Vice president is a California native I’m sure she’s out here all the time I guarantee it’ll get her attention and show the power of ACSOL as of right they don’t fear us because they don’t see us our hear us.
You know the old saying “Out of site is out of mind” that’s just my opinion
stay focused
Honestly, I doubt if it would have had a positive affect even without the nut cases roaming Congress. I put the public in two camps. Those that know the registry is bunk privately and still support it publicly, and those that think it is saving the planet from the monster hordes and support it. Either way, it has support. Education and logic will never overcome ignorance and emotion.
This is a wise decision. We will need to pursue other forms of education.
The vigil is still going on. If you can only go to one event, go to the vigil.
I have no interest in another conference listening to sermons preached to choirs.
Until our movement grows a pair, don’t expect to go anywhere.
Just as well. Most registrants wouldn’t be able to attend either because they can’t afford the time off work or because of the inane travel restrictions, particularly those on paper.
I don’t think the travel restrictions are a purpose of the stupid travel restrictions, but they certainly do have an impact. I’m willing to bet there is a significant number of registry offices that will go out of their way to find or invent a violation before or after such assemblies.
Actually this is a smart move for ACSOL’s team. Yes, I just got off of probation today. Sure it could of been worse. See when your dealing with people you have to understand the person view also. If I was married, well sometimes sisters are bad enough as part of family members. Yes I was classified as a class tier III whether its a felony or not to me its only a label or a classification.
I can understand more of Will Allens ramblings on here than some others and at times lawyers are for very good reasons and support issues’ such as this issue we are all in. See people can classified all they want and thats what humanity seems to do. This sex registry is so blown out of proporation and yes many need to step up to the plate on this although many business firms or services have to make a decision and ACSOL made a pretty good one.
I’ll be in D.C as its only about 2 hrs from me and I’m sure many from surrounding area’s will also that want to show support if it is needed and/or necessary. Isn’t one of the main goals of ACSOL — to strive to make change in the registry and to defend justice and yes any good lawyer avenue is to defend justice. Sure I could of wound up in prison, leg monitor, things of that nature and yes at times I actually didn’t like to see my probation officer on a monthly bases. Sure many people were looking forward to maybe going to D.C. but I’m sure ACSOL’s board made a good decision.
Although I even have an Idea and that is all the people that are organized such as ACSOL, NARSOL, FAC to get together and compare notes and present them to the people in D.C about this registry issue, the leg monitoring, this lifetime registry issue and other issues that compound justice and that we all talk about on here. That might be something to think about.
While I’m disappointed, I can’t say this is a bad decision.
Last thing we need is “Sex Offenders arrested en masse at Nation’s Capitol” plastered on USA Today. January 6th ruined legal protests for everyone in this country and Capitol police has to be itching to have good publicity.
“it is no longer safe to conduct the vigil given the highly polarized environment in the nation’s capitol. ”
Admittedly my memory is not what it used to be, but what happened in the last 12 months?
The two events I remember that got this country closer to being ripped apart since the Vietnam War was the May 2020 murder of George Floyd and the Jan 6 2021 riot on Capitol Hill. Both those events resulted in protests, riots and death and destruction. Not to mention a country wide division not seen in decades.
Then, in July 2021 ACSOL announced the planned event in Washington DC, just rescinded for security reasons due to recent developments. Exactly what has happened in the past year that was worse than the year before, that would cause this event to be cancelled? I seriously cannot come up with anything.
I understand the issue and trust ACSOL to do what is in our best interest. However, I would like more information on the conference and Capitol Hill visits. Are they still happening? It is a very expensive trip and I may wish to cancel reservations. Please address this on Saturday July 23. Thank you.
I will still attend the March 2023 conference, which is across the river in Virginia, not in the capitol. I hope others will still attend this important event. W.A.R. posted details here: https://ww1.womenagainstregistry.org/teamwork-makes-the-dreamwork-newsletter-may-2022
Its better not to approach the SCOTUS building at this time. Peaceful protesters are being arrested for simply sitting in the way. We would be turned into a news article blasting the RSO community and used as an excuse to tighten the screws even tighter. The SCOTUS since Roe v. Wade has shown they simply do not care what the people of USA believe or what the people want. They plan on doing as they please because they are above consequences.
Not terribly hospitable. 😟
Is this about registrants or about counter-protestors? I’m not particularly worried about anyone “giving us a bad name.” When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose, and our “brand” is as low as it can get. If it’s about counter-protestor violence, then I understand, but would a group like the Proud Boys actually counter-protest? This is about specific federal registry issues, not culture wars. Seems a bit out of their wheelhouse.
See TS,Will Allen, Tim n WI and many more involved in all this confusion. I was born in Logan County, WV, in the 1950’s The next door neighbor in my area was Bloody Mingo County a coal mining area and a crooked area at that time. Yes their was a coal mine diaeaster in that area. Piston Coal Mind was liable for mmuch of this flooding that flooded out much of that area.
I worked in that disaster helping deliver food to many families. It was a mess up their but still it was helping others. Today much of this Computer issue is wrong in many types of ways and much, if not all of it, should be abolished. See there has to be public Safety… what do you think OSHA is all about in mind safety. Sure method and the right type is good for all families in Safety issues.
Sure one can let Janice and her team and other advocates go to Washington DC. to represent many in this issue or strive to get many and much of this registry abolished, but safety is the main factor in many ways. I know we can discuss things on here and issues but when human rights interfeer with government actions it can get out of hand
.
Hey I only spoke with Janice on the phone once and was at times having mixed emotions but California is a very diverse area.. A technology area if you may say and Janice and her team have a goal and even with my mixed reviews she can give them a run for civil rights and also how these registry ordeals go. Don’t we send representatives to congress whats wrong with Janices team and a few more advocates representativing those on the registry.
Sure writing letters to Biden or your Government is good and can help in much of this “Human endeavor” as this registry in many ways does no good for the American Public and yes any good lawyer is good if one needs it but a good Constitutional is a blessing in disguise. And please lets not talk about Kent state but use it as an example if one wants to go to that extreme. Hey even the example of what we all saw wasn’t to bright.
I applaud this decision. We have long known that we will not win this fight in the court of public opinion and changing public opinion thankfully, is not a necessary element to achieve victory. We have only the Courts to convince. Bringing a lot of attention to ourselves in DC could very easily backfire. Do we actually expect the public and the media to be on our side at this vigil? That’s rather unlikely. A bunch of sex offenders gathering on the steps of the Supreme Court protesting Smith v. Doe really doesn’t seem the best P.R. move and indeed, may even uneccessarily put people in danger. Our fight is not going to be won with parades and protests. It’s just not that kind of a fight.
Just emailed the WAR organization in my concerns canceling the Washington 2023 conference. I was wondering if some were thinking this could sound like child abuse is okay let’s make it clear we are definitely against child abuse or any kind of abuse but this registration nothing to do with protecting children and that there is no evidence that registration has done any good in doing that I believe the best way to prevent abuse is educating parents and children concerning abuse. And I’m sure the majority of registrants would never consider reoffending. So let’s make that distinction and we are all for protecting our children but being on the registration not the solution