Republicans in 6 states are trying to protect drivers who hit protesters

[deminks]

https://thinkprogress.org/republican-lawmakers-in-6-states-are-trying-to-protect-drivers-who-hit-protesters-4da6e6ebaa59/

As white nationalists and counter-protesters clashed in Charlottesville on Saturday, 20-year old James Field allegedly got into his car and plowed through a crowded street, killing a 32-year old woman and injuring 19 others.

Fields was arrested Saturday and charged with second-degree murder. Lawmakers on both sides denounced the driver’s actions, with Republicans in Congress labeling the incident a “terror attack” and calling for a Department of Justice investigation into the violence. With the exception of the president, who condemned violence on “many sides”, the consensus was that a person should not be allowed to drive a car through a crowd, no matter the motive or intentions.

But not everyone agrees with that statement. State lawmakers in at least six GOP-controlled states have pushed for laws this year that would shield drivers who hit protesters. The bills are part of a wave of anti-protest proposals introduced since the rise of the Black Lives Matter and anti-Trump resistance movements.

(snip)

Shielding drivers from liability is not the only way Republican states have attempted to crack down on peaceful protests since the start of the Trump presidency. According to the Washington Post, Republican lawmakers in at least 18 states have introduced bills to crack down on protesters. Among those proposals are bills that would allow cities to sue protesters in order to collect money to pay police forces required at demonstrations, increase the potential penalty for nonviolent demonstrations, and increase fines against picketers. Lee Rowland, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, told ThinkProgress in January that she found it troubling that states would prioritize anti-free speech legislation at the beginning of their legislative sessions.

(end snip)

I can pretty much guarrantee that these laws if passed would not be applied equally to "many sides".

[struggle4progress]

1. "Let's hit-and-run to honor Robert E Lee!"

[dhol82]

2. Wonder what the reaction would be if somebody were to drive into a bunch of nazis?

Doubt the pubs would be amused.

[Wounded Bear]

4. I'm sure they hope it will happen...

They are not above sacrificing a few of their own for the "cause." If it happens, it would justify it to them.

Tit-for-tat in their minds.

[dhol82]

7. That's really repulsive

Sadly, I believe you might be right.
Anything for the new Reich.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Not just in red states...

that was proposed here in WA state lately. It didn't go far, thankfully, but we need to be vigilant.

That is over the top. If you read the article, there is a crazy line in there, that drivers who hit protesters are protected from liability if they show "due diligence" when they do.

[Squinch]

5. They should be shamed just like the marchers are being shamed.

[beachbum bob]

6. Works both ways.....