View source for October 26th, 2025 Member Meeting

Meeting to be held via video conference: https://communitybridge.com/bbb-room/mass-pirates-member-meeting/

Recording: 

== Reports ==

== Decisions/Endorsements ==

=== Co-sponsor session on the criminalization of self-defense? ===

We were asked by The Black Response to co-sponsor [https://www.theblackresponsecambridge.com/events/the-criminalization-of-self-defense their upcoming community education event in partnership with Impact Boston on “The Criminalization of Self-Defense.”] [https://survivedandpunished.org/defending-self-defense-report/ Report]. Summary:

    This free and public gathering will explore how self-defense is criminalized, particularly for Black, Brown, and marginalized survivors, and how communities can reclaim safety through resistance, advocacy, and care. I’ve included some additional info about the session below.

The session will take place from 6:00 to 8:30pm at the Community Art Center in Cambridge on Thursday, November 20. Sponsorship involves sending us your logo to be included on the flyer and promoting the event to your networks.


=== United States Pirate Party Issues? ===

== Projects/Events ==

=== Pirate News ===

Leader: Joseph

* Pirate news recording scheduled for every other Sunday, 7pm with go-live at 7:30pm. Unless changed

=== 2026 Campaigns & Voter Outreach ===

Leader: Jamie

Based on Mass. Election Division data, we have 721 voters. Alec is contacting all of the municipalities that have not fulfilled our public records request.

Jamie and Alec drafted a [[2026 Campaign Plan]] for review and approval. Final version will be done this week.

=== Commonwealth Bills to Review ===

The Mass. Senate passed [https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2619 An Act establishing the Massachusetts data privacy act] unanimously. It has been referred to the Committee on [https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/H34/194 House Ways and Means].

Other bills:

* An Act relative to unmanned aerial systems ([https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3749 H.3749] / [https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2438 S.2438])
* An Act relative to protecting Massachusetts residents against federal government surveillance ([https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2687 H.2687])
* Dignity Not Deportations Act ([https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1588 H.1588] / [https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1122 S.1122])
* Right to Repair Bills:
** [https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H433 H.433] & [https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S189 S.189]
** [https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H398 H.398]
** [https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1278 H.1278] (Hearing occurred)
* Decrim Sex Work Bills from https://bswac.org/. Emailed Rikki and Desmond their thoughts on them as they are the most up to date on the issue:
** An Act to promote the health and safety of people in the sex trade ([https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1980 H.1980])

Here is [https://etherpad.pp-international.net/p/MassPirates_2025_Bills_To_Review an etherpad for people to offer suggestions].

==== Bills We Decided On ====

Endorsed:

* An Act to provide accountability in the use of biometric recognition technology and comprehensive enforcement ([https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H96 H.96]/[https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S36 S.36])
* Civil Asset Forfeiture reform ([https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1953 H.1953])
* H.1973. An Act protecting personal security. We support the bill, and its senate counterpart.
* S.1731. An Act to promote transparency of facial recognition and driver's license photos. Not great, but we'll support it, because it sucks less than the status quo.
* H.1946/ An Act to implement the recommendations of the special commission on facial recognition technology. We support the warrant requirements, and the bills provisions for transparency and reporting.
* An Act to study the decriminalization of sex work ([https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2467 H.2467])
* An Act relative to safe reporting ([https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1747 H.1747])
* An Act relative to sexual assault by an officer ([https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2634 H.2634])

=== Federal Bills to Review ===

* Anti-File Sharing bills:
** Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act ([https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/791/text H.R.791]) - [https://torrentfreak.com/new-bill-aims-to-block-foreign-pirate-sites-in-the-u-s-250129/ ...more]
** American Copyright Protection Act (Not yet posted) [https://torrentfreak.com/unveiled-new-u-s-anti-piracy-bill-acpa-proposes-alternative-site-blocking-path/ ...more])
** ... more on the bills at https://torrentfreak.com/fears-of-overblocking-unite-critics-of-u-s-pirate-site-blocking-bill/
* Kids Online Safety Act ([https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1748/text S.1748])
* Pro Codes Act ([https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4009/text H.R.4009] [https://www.techdirt.com/2024/07/23/congress-wants-to-let-private-companies-own-the-law/ ...more]
* American Music Fairness Act ([https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/861/text H.R.861])

=== A reconsideration of Member Meeting Articles ===

We haven't adhered to our [https://masspirates.org/wiki/Articles_of_Agreement Articles of Agreement]'s [https://masspirates.org/wiki/Articles_of_Agreement#Article_4.0:_Member_Meetings Member Meetings section] strictly since we have existed, specifically the [ https://masspirates.org/wiki/Articles_of_Agreement#4.2_Form Form] and [https://masspirates.org/wiki/Articles_of_Agreement#4.2_Time Time] sections. Meetings have met weekly and bi-weekly (our current form) and not twice a year each over six weeks.

Rework them to:

* Have a section on conferences (possible spring/fall, at least one a year)
* Rework the member meetings to be on-line at least once a month
* Set when elections for the pirate council is and that we can elect people at a conference or on-line by secret ballot

Working on a draft document at https://etherpad.pp-international.net/p/MAPPRevisedMemberMeetingsArticles

=== Other To Do ===

== Upcoming Events ==

* 11/1-2 noon-2pm, [https://masspirates.org/crew/forms/pirate-meetup-2025-boston-anarchist-bookfair Pirate Meetup] @ [https://bostonanarchistbookfair.org/ 2025 Boston Anarchist Book Fair], Cambridge Community Center

== Participants ==

* Jamie
* Steve

=== Observers ===

== Summary ==

Jamie sent a few email updates earlier this weekend.

We have a pirate meetup at Boston Anarchist Bookfair.  Noon, next Saturday and Sunday.

Black Response asked if we would be a sponsor for one of their upcoming events.  It's Nov 20th, 6pm, Community Arts Center in Cambridge. Motion to sponsor carries.

Camridge: a few months ago the police department wanted to put up more surveillance cameras, and the city council put a hold on their request, and sent the request to the public safety committee for review.  Next public safety committee has yet to be scheduled.  Cambridge also has a pole and conduit commission who reviews any device installations on telephone poles.

Last week was the no kings rally.  About 100,000 people showed up in Boston and 7MM US-wide.

The USPP is looking for a state to host their annual conference, which should be sometime around July 4th.