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NEWS : STORIES
Russell Simmons fought the law — and he won. On Wednesday (August 18), a State Supreme Court judge agreed with the hip-hop mogul's argument that parts of New York's Lobbying Act are unconstitutional. Simmons was the subject of a
The commission claimed that the rally was considered lobbying and that as such, Simmons and partner Dr. Benjamin Chavis, former head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, had to divulge how much they spent to organize the protest. Simmons said he handed in all the paperwork the commission requested and further stated that he is not a lobbyist, but a celebrity hoping to use his influence to educate the public on the unfairness of the drug laws, and that holding the rally was within his rights to exercise free speech (see "Russell Simmons Calls Lobbying Probe A Waste Of Money"). Judge Bernard Malone agreed with their argument and ruled that the lobbying act violates due-process rights by failing to give notice or a hearing before handing down a penalty. "The fact is," Simmons said in a statement issued Wednesday, "we should have the right to express our opinions about laws we deem unjust. I'm happy about this ruling because, going forward, you won't have to be a millionaire to say what's on your mind or stand up for your rights." Though the ruling represents one victory for Simmons, changes in the Rockefeller laws have yet to be implemented, as the legislature is in the midst of its longest state-budget impasse in New York state history, according to The New York Times. Simmons isn't simply reveling in this most recent victory. Instead, on August 30, the same day the Republican National Convention begins in New York, Simmons and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will hold "The March on New York" (see "Russell Simmons To Greet GOP Convention With Hip-Hop March" ). The rally, which Simmons expects to be the "biggest hip-hop gathering ever," will address topics including the elimination of the Rockefeller drug laws. P. Diddy, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Fat Joe, Dame Dash, Dead Prez, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins supported Simmons at last year's protest (see "Diddy, Jay-Z, Susan Sarandon Rally Against New York Drug Laws"). This report is provided by MTV News
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