REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN FIVE STATES PROPOSE BILLS TO CRIMINALIZE PEACEFUL PROTESTS

[Equinox Moon]

Source: The Intercept

...nonviolent demonstrating may soon carry increased legal risks including punishing fines and significant prison terms for people who participate in protests involving civil disobedience. Over the past few weeks, Republican legislators across the country have quietly introduced a number of proposals to criminalize and discourage peaceful protest.

The proposals, which strengthen or supplement existing laws addressing the blocking or obstructing of traffic, come in response to a string of high-profile highway closures and other actions led by Black Lives Matter activists and opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Republicans reasonably expect an invigorated protest movement during the Trump years.

North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Washington, Iowa

Read more: https://theintercept.com/2017/01/19/republican-lawmakers-in-five-states-propose-bills-to-criminalize-peaceful-protest/


It is clearly a political move to silence the people.

In Minnesota, an aspect of the bill would give the government the right to sue protestors for police response. The Women's March for example.

In North Dakota, the bill would allow motorists to run over and kill any protester obstructing a highway as long as a driver does so accidentally.

[bdamomma]

1. These Repubilcans

hate our rights, they are no Americans.

We are the true patriots, we love our country not a fascist we have now.

[Equinox Moon]

2. Agreed.

Just watch how creative we get if these bills get passed.

One example, bitcoin. When we get derailed, we get creative!

[alarimer]

3. Fucking assholes.

Absolutely unAmerican. Looking more and more like fascists everyday.

[Alekzander]

7. All the more reason for Dems & all those who care to get their heads together to make sure mid-terms

go our way & that is just a start of what is needed to be done or this will be like a fascist country. The Republicans have been working on this for a long time & I really don't know what the Dems have been doing but whatever they were doing it did not work in our favor.

[bdamomma]

4. The North Dakota

Water protectors will not stop protecting their water or their land. These Republicans are afraid about peaceful protestors what cowards. This is our right.

[Jacob Boehme]

5. The ACLU will have a friggin' field day with this!

[Equinox Moon]

8. I joined the ACLU today!

[bdamomma]

18. Very good

I keep sending them donations and Planned Parenthood.

[Useless in FL]

6. Boy, they're trying...

to disenfranchise a huge number of voters. We are being shut down as quickly as they can make it happen.

[napi21]

9. HEY PUBBIES, you can't do that. IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!! It's foolish to waste your time &

and the court's time putzing with junk like that!

[Equinox Moon]

10. I hope you are right.

I fear however, that they will pass some these bills.

[roamer65]

11. Blatantly unconstitutional.

They know it, so folks...watch what the other hand is doing.

[Equinox Moon]

13. The MN bill passed in committee today.

Huge emotional uproar by citizens present. They had to clear the room.

[lpbk2713]

12. The interpretation of "civil disobedience" will be entirely up to law enforcement.

It looks like they could say just once "drop your signs and go home" and then
everyone who didn't immediately comply could be arrested. Fug those fascists.

[Equinox Moon]

14. It won't pass in Washington with Dem majority

Minnesota is at risk. I can't imagine the ND one will pass legalizing running over someone and killing them. But, hey, its ND.

[Initech]

15. Well apparently the constitution doesn't matter anymore.

[bdamomma]

19. We have to make it matter

I was so upset this afternoon about this man telling lies all the time. I called my Senator up and told them this man is not well mentally.

Well he is out for revenge he is already attacking women, refugees, this means more action from us on a state level.

[Takket]

16. these laws would never survive SCOTUS

except... after Scalia #2 is sworn in... they will

[Takket]

17. do any of these bills make it illegal to point an assault rifle at a Federal offical?

[Jim Beard]

20. I thought about emailing the sponsors of the bill and asking.......

how many people in your state. I am trying to figure out how many cars I will need to run over all of the. BTW, what time of is best for multi contacts and is there a possibility of keeping school zones open longer?