Republican Legislators Propose a Series of Bills That Would Criminalize Peaceful Protests

[bostonangler]

Republican Legislators Propose a Series of Bills That Would Criminalize Peaceful Protests

 

But it's still just as important as ever to show up.

 

By Gina Mei

Jan 23, 2017

[SnowGlobe7]

link?

[bostonangler]

 

14 minutes ago, SnowGlobe7 said:

link?

 

While most of the world is still buzzing with positive energy from the Women's Marches on Saturday, several Republican legislators have been working hard to potentially make future peaceful protests a punishable offense.

According to The Intercept, several proposals have been introduced by Republican legislators over the past few weeks specifically targeting protests that block or obstruct traffic — including a North Dakota bill that would allow motorists to hit and kill protesters obstructing the highway "as long as [the] driver does so accidentally."

 

Another bill in Minnesota would make obstructing a highway a "gross misdemeanor" punishable by a hefty fine of $3,000 and up to a year in jail, while a separate piece of legislature would make "obstructing the legal process" punishable by an even heftier fine of up to $10,000 plus "imprisonment of not less than 12 months." Similar bills designed to criminalize and discourage protests have also been proposed in Washington, Iowa, and Michigan.

As The Intercept points out, this "trend" appears to be a not-so-subtle workaround to the First Amendment, which states, "Congress shall make no law respecting ... the right of the people peaceably to assemble." Furthermore, the bills seem to be in response to recent protests organized by Black Lives Matter and the activists fighting construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline — which is horrifying for a multitude of reasons, most notably the continued criminalization of black and brown people.

The very specific targeting becomes even more concerning when combined with what Slate reports is a "bracing message implicitly directed to supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement" from the Trump administration. As the source points out, amongst the "Top Issues" on President Trump's new White House website is "Standing Up For Our Law Enforcement Community," which in part appears to be addressed to protestors of police violence.

"The Trump Administration will be a law and order administration," the website reads. "The dangerous anti-police atmosphere in America is wrong. The Trump Administration will end it ... Our job is not to make life more comfortable for the rioter, the looter, or the violent disrupter."

While neither specifically mentions Black Lives Matter or the Dakota Access Pipeline by name, it's easy to see how both the proposed bills and the Trump administration's stance feed a dangerous, violent narrative that targets smaller protests mostly consisting of people of color. As many pointed out in response to the low arrest numbers of the Women's Marches, it's not only a sign of a successful protest, but also proof of a wholly different method of policing — which is why, now more than ever, it's so essential just as many people show up for the small, local protests as the big ones.

 

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a8628723/republican-legislators-propose-bills-criminalize-protests/

[SnowGlobe7]

ty i will read

[markb57]

protest is 1st amendment right. the riots at the womens marches were not protected. about 400 rioters over the weekend will be facing 10 years in prison and 25K fine. as far as blocking traffic at any protest, that's no longer a protest in my mind. block me and I will most assuredly run the over. 

Also, I hope the DC city cleanup crews send a bill to the march organizers. that was ridiculous. 

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

1 hour ago, bostonangler said:

While most of the world is still buzzing with positive energy from the Women's Marches on Saturday,

More fake news  and false narrative !  "positive energy"...?  "womens march"... AW, C'MON !

IT WAS / IS NEITHER !

Over half the groups were PAID SHILLS of gorged soros ! 

And what's "positive "about language that would make a dockside stevedore blush...?! 

And filthy graphics and body parts on display for THEIR OWN CHILDREN to see..? Is THAT a "positive" message...?

How about inciteful HATE SPEECH to blow up The Peoples' House...? Is THAT "positive energy"...?

Calling for SHARIA LAW is "positive"....?

Shrieking banshees wailing, absurdities and when asked to clarify their "agenda" HAD NO ANSWERS !

LIBERAL LEFTY LIES ! LIBERAL LEFTY LIES !   LIBERAL LEFTY LIES !

Well if THIS is the kind of hateful, caustic, threatening acerbic insanity that they are trying to curb, we vote hell yes !  Stop the insanity of the clinically insane lefties ! If they cannot stop themselves from travesties like this, then we should be kind and stop them for their own good !

BAKER ACT TIME, LIBBIES !

 

Edited January 24, 2017 by SgtFuryUSCZ

[patrickgold]

It's not a peaceful assembly/protest when property is being damaged, highways, roads are being blocked or anyone chaining themselves to fenses,or post etc.  I think you get the message. 

So you abuse the 1st admentment, you pay the price.  Color of skin plays no role, lets not go there!!!

[Karsten]

A Peaceful Protest is one thing.....A Protest where you start Riots, burning cars, Setting Fires, Breaking windows and beating people is No Long a peaceful Protest....The What ever bimbo open legs march was also about in sighting unrest.....Thankfully No One Wanted to go There....But they sure left their trash behind for someone else to clean up....Funny how liberals ***** about nothing that makes any sense but when they are done Conservatives with Jobs are Left to Clean up the Mess they left.

You ever seen a Conservative Protest....2012 in DC and the place was cleaner when they were done than the place had been in years.....No one got shot, no one got beaten and no one was told to get out....They weren't Allowed.....Just be Warned....America and Americans are growing weary of the childish BS....I don't thing these Snowflakes and liberals really know what will happen once they open Pandora's Box.......There will be no closing the box.

 

Just my 2 cents worth and thank God I don't live in a big city.....I Pray for You that do.

Karsten

[MyLadiesDaddy]

Libretards and the Undecided fence sitters that really only care about their stock portfolios are all running scared now. They know that the gig is up. That is why we will be relentlessly subjected to this barrage of Fake News and false narratives for some time. 

And by the way B/A tell us when the last time was that you saw a,"PEACEFUL PROTEST"? Or are you gonna be like Umbertino now and just throw your incendiary crap out here and laugh at the saine folks for getting so upset with you? 

[RV ME]

Two states propose bills making it illegal to block traffic while protesting and that is considered a series of bills to criminalize peaceful protests by Cosmo?  I think they need to take off the p***y hats and try to find their thinking caps.  Blocking an interstate to protest Trump may be considered a peaceful protest by some, but in order to believe that you must ignore the fact that the “peaceful protest” is violating other citizens 1^st Amendment right to assemble.  Why should that be acceptable?  What Cosmo and others seem to forget is that one person’s rights end where another's begin. 

[bostonangler]

6 hours ago, ladyGrace'sDaddy said:

Libretards and the Undecided fence sitters that really only care about their stock portfolios are all running scared now. They know that the gig is up. That is why we will be relentlessly subjected to this barrage of Fake News and false narratives for some time. 

And by the way B/A tell us when the last time was that you saw a,"PEACEFUL PROTEST"? Or are you gonna be like Umbertino now and just throw your incendiary crap out here and laugh at the saine folks for getting so upset with you? 

There were many protests for the women's march on Saturday, including my town where there were no issues or arrests. I personally am not sure of what the point was, but most of the time people do assemble peaceably. Surely you don't want to lose your right to protest? That would be un-American.

 

B/A

[bostonangler]

Yup we live in The United States of Amnesia..... Or was it okay then but not now? I'm just asking. This isn't against Trump. It's a reminder that it is a two way street. Were the actions and protests and hanging of effigies of Obama okay? Would it be okay to hang effigies of President Trump? Or does it sicken you to read how people acted in 2008

 

Conservatives forget history in discrediting Trump protesters

By Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco, contributor - 11/12/16 07:27 PM EST 

 

 

Today, thousands of people assembled in streets around the world to protest the presidency of Donald J. Trump for the fourth straight day in a row.

While the vast majority of the protests have been peaceful, spurts of violence have drawn the attention of the media. Reports of protesters throwing rocks and bottles at police in Santa Ana, stories of property destruction in Oregon, and a video of a physical attack against a Trump supporter in Chicago are a few examples of the recorded violent reactions to Trump’s election.

Trump’s supporters also perceive these protests as “unfair” because they claim there were no riots following Obama’s election.

According to conservatives on social media, “Republicans have jobs and responsibilities” and therefore couldn’t engage in civil disobedience to voice their discontent with the 2008 and 2012 elections. With this perception of the Obama elections and subsequent claims of “ Republican acceptance,” Trump supporters are now demanding the same “fairness” for Donald J. Trump’s presidency, “We sat through do nothing politics for 8 years, the least they can do is go shut up and sit in the corner for 8 themselves,” on Trump supporter explained.

 

However, these perceptions do not reflect what actually followed the election of our country’s first black president, much less the difference between why people are protesting

Obama’s election in 2008 was preceded and followed by violent attacks and property destruction targeted against minorities.

Kaylon Johnson, an African American campaign worker for Obama, was physically assaulted for wearing an Obama T-shirt in Louisiana following the 2008 election. The three white male attackers shouted “**** Obama!” and “****** president!” as they broke Johnson’s nose and fractured his eye-socket, requiring surgery.

More frequently, Obama’s presidency was marked by effigies of our first black president hanging from nooses across the country, for example in Kentucky, Washington State, and Maine, or being burned around the world. What Trump supporters fail to remember is that following Obama’s election, property was destroyed across the country, for example in Pennsylvania, Texas, and North Carolina, and a predominately black church was torched in Massachusetts.

In 2008, anti-Obama protesters lashed out against minorities because of their discontentment with a black man being voted into the office of president for the first time in our nation’s history. Conversely, in 2016, anti-Trump protesters are holding mostly peaceful demonstrations because of their discontentment with a man, who has ostracized minorities, being voted into the office of president.

And while anti-Trump protesters have engaged in mostly peaceful demonstrations against the president-elect, pro-Trump supporters have been responsible for a wave of attacks against Muslims, Latinos, blacks, and the LGBT community.

According to Mark Potok, senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center civil rights group, there haven’t been “such a rash of hate crimes in the United States since Barack Obama was elected America’s first black president in 2008.” Muslim women are reporting having their hijabs ripped from their heads, while immigrant children are being bullied. Trump’s name and slogan, “Make America Great Again,” are being found alongside swastikas and anti-minority messages in graffiti around the nation.

Ultimately, demonstrators are not protesting Trump because he is Republican. They aren’t protesting him because he is a white male. These protests are because of the bigotry his campaign has emboldened and the fear of discrimination his presidency has the capacity to perpetuate. 

Mehlman-Orozco holds a Ph.D. in criminology, law and society from George Mason University, with an expertise in human trafficking. She currently serves as a human trafficking expert witness for criminal cases and her book, “Hidden in Plain Sight: America's Slaves of the New Millennium.” Follow her on Twitter @MehlmanOrozco 

 

 

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/305749-republicans-employ-double-standard-to-discredit

 

 

B/A

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

ho'bummer's  shills who were PAID to disrupt, like KILLary's during this last election, are not "protestors"...

The very passive-aggressive article you posted BA is wrought with fallacy over fact, deception over Truth and

FALSE NARRATIVE designed intentionally to promote the hate and divisiveness encouraged, paid for and put out there by

those who want US  divided and crushed. 

The hijab incident - debunked... the graffiti incident - debunked... you get the idea, right?

NOT DEBUNKED - anti-Trump attackers hauling a white man outta his car and beating him to near death

sick twisted Trump haters almost killing a mentally impaired white man...

PAID protestors attacking Trump supporters outside a dinner party...

We can go on and on...

So you know what you get now for bringing in these LIES, right...?

FAKE NEWS ! - FALSE NARRATIVE ! -LEFTY LIES !

 

[bostonangler]

So you are cool with people calling President Obama "****** President"? And you are good with hanging effigies of President Trump as a protest?

 

B/A

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

Name-calling and playing with dolls is not the same as PHYSICAL VIOLENCE,

LOOTING,

BURNING,

ATTACKING WITH WEAPONS,

SPITTING,

RIPPING PERSONAL PROPERTY like hats & Flags FROM OTHERS' HANDS

BREAKING WINDOWS AND DESTROYING INFRASTRUCTURE,

BLOCKING TRAFFIC WITHOUT A PERMIT,..etc....

 

Get over yourselves... you're too thin-skinned from swallowing all that RED KOOL-AID and just love

calling EVERYTHING a "HATE CRIME" and instead of manning-up like Patriots, you all trash, destroy,

spew divisive hate speech of your own, pick up that soros paycheck then

pretend to run off to your safe spaces because the CHAOS & HAVOC YOU brought is too much for your sensitive psyche.

 

LIES   FALSE NARRATIVE   FAKE OFFENSE TAKEN   LEFTY LUNACY !

CLASSIC LEFTY HYPOCRASY !

 

 

Edited January 24, 2017 by SgtFuryUSCZ

[bostonangler]

Right. I agree and all those things you mentioned did happen back in 2008. My point is non of this type of behavior is acceptable. There shouldn't be a double standard. All people should be accountable for their actions. But, it seems to me that people forgot history. Thus is why I use the term United States of Amnesia. Why will people on either side of any issue refuse to admit when their side has made a mistake? What we saw this weekend was deplorable. What we saw in 2008 was deplorable. You of all people know that the politicians are dividing us. It is up to us to stand together.

 

B/A

[RV ME]

39 minutes ago, bostonangler said:

Yup we live in The United States of Amnesia..... Or was it okay then but not now? I'm just asking. This isn't against Trump. It's a reminder that it is a two way street. Were the actions and protests and hanging of effigies of Obama okay? Would it be okay to hang effigies of President Trump? Or does it sicken you to read how people acted in 2008

B/A

Can you please explain how hanging anyone in effigy violates another persons’ rights.  It appears that you are the one that wants to curtail peaceful protests, apparently limited to the ones you disagree with.

[Theseus]

 Peaceful protests criminalization would require a change to the Constitution as it is protected by our Constitution. People protest against Trump because he has an R behind his name. People around the world have burnt effigies of our Presidents and the US flag. This is nothing new. What is new brought about by the Democrat narrative of the War on Women (no such thing), the race card being played and class division that are the three goto's of every election a democrat has been a part of. The false narrative the Tea Party had violent and anti-racial demonstrations is also a false narrative. There will always be a few who take it too far but this number has increased exponentially beneath the Presidency of Obama due to the fact that media perpetrated false narratives and former President Obama was on the heels of every major incident to promote the racial divide and the politicization of gun control. There have been incidents where nary a peep was said when compared to the false narrative perpetrated by the media and the roles were reversed. As far as the war on women, there is no such war. The false narrative that women get paid less is actually false when the statistics are dug into. During the presidential term of former President G.W Bush an assassination of the President was made (which the artist who created the poster in which depicted the bullet hole to Obama's head credited as a direct response to this movie) and was given world acclaim. One of the major contributors to these narratives has been George Soros who has funded the Communist Party and websites like MoveOn.org. It has been a particular bias giving a pass to a democrat in office for saying a controversial matter that would have a republican removed from office. The democrats continually to espouse that they are tolerant but only when they are in agreement with the democrat. This one-sided narrative promulgated by the likes of major news anchors who have lost their jobs have brought to light the media's own involvement into this advocacy of the left's false truths. The reason Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was fired should anger every democrat breathing and many should turn over in their graves because this shows the manipulation and depths to which the left has gone. The famous left leaning website the Democrat Underground has been shown to collude to bring in paid protestors and paid voters to both the polls and voting events. On the right, a republican Senatorial race, where the incumbent used the tactics of the left against a fellow opponent outlined these tactics where posters explicitly targeted black individuals with race-baiting and pay-for voting.  Pay-for voting is not uncommon in American politics as it has been said George Washington, a whiskey maker, would roll out barrels of whiskey for those who would vote for him. Politics has gone from an honorable gentleman's trade in America to down in the dirt slug fest by pointing  who is worse. The media wanting a piece of the pie has become the United States' third political party where journalism, a profession once honorable, is now seen as means to sway the election one direction or the other. By promulgating false narratives to give credence to the narratives of a War on Women, the Alt Right, the anti-racial narrative etc. It was Red Skelton who before the Supreme Court ruling against Church and State that during a stand up gig explained what the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States and why he pledged that allegiance to the flag meant to him. One of the most emotional skits of a true patriot. The facts above point that to the fact that the media's promulgation of a false narrative, the coddling of our youth, the take over of academia by the left, foreign influence into our politics has increased the violence in civil protests. A civil protest that is peaceful is just that a protest. When that protest involves violence, destruction of property and the aggression toward police officers it crosses over into rioting territory and those who should do it should face the consequences as prescribed by law.   

[bostonangler]

7 minutes ago, RV ME said:

Can you please explain how hanging anyone in effigy violates another persons’ rights.  It appears that you are the one that wants to curtail peaceful protests, apparently limited to the ones you disagree with.

 

Nah, I'm all for peaceful assembly. I'm not into disrespect. The point to this thread is the pot calling the kettle black. Most protests are peaceful. The proposed laws are meant to outlaw violence, but it would open the door to more laws which could infringe on our rights. Look at gun laws. Some are legit, but as they pile them on them become ridiculous. I don't think these proposed laws will go anywhere, but it is scary that people willingly accept more government.

 

B/A

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

27 minutes ago, bostonangler said:

 The proposed laws are meant to outlaw violence,

And your problem with that would be....? Are you FOR violence like the rest of your lefty ilk...?

You say your "for peaceful protest"... are you or not...?

There are laws on the books to protect Americans from the fallout of violent protest already...

do they need shoring up...?

Perhaps that's what is being sought here now that the radical left has taken the violence to a whole new level.

And with the advent of groups like BLM, lefty groups calling for Cop killings, and violence being rewarded by your

leaders like gorged soros etc, it's seriously warranted.

YOUR LEFT RAMPED UP THE HATE AND VIOLENCE.  These legislators are perhaps just seeking a remedy to it in

order to keep Americans safe from your lefty brand of hateful, spiteful evil.

[bostonangler]

Just now, SgtFuryUSCZ said:

And your problem with that would be....? Are you FOR violence like the rest of your lefty ilk...?

You say your "for peaceful protest"... are you or not...?

There are laws on the books to protect Americans from the fallout of violent protest already...

do they need shoring up...?

Perhaps that's what is being sought here now that the radical left has taken the violence to a whole new level.

And with the advent of groups like BLM, lefty groups calling for Cop killings, and violence being rewarded by your

leaders like gorged soros etc, it's seriously warranted.

YOUR LEFT RAMPED UP THE HATE AND VIOLENCE.  These legislators are perhaps just seeking a remedy to it in

order to keep Americans safe from your lefty brand of hateful, spiteful evil.

I am for peaceful protests. But these type of laws open Pandora's box. Do you think all gun laws are good? Of course not. Should there be some sort of laws to keep guns out of the hands of felons? Yup. But do we really need all the thousands of stupid gun laws that followed? Nope. How do you stop this government control once it starts?

My point is, that we don't need to add more laws to the books. I think we need to take some laws off the books. And because of a few stupid people the reaction is to legislate. Do you think if these laws were passed, some jackass wouldn't try to expand them?

What about all of us here? We have discussions that sometimes turn ugly or even hateful. Do we want some congressman to say we need to shut it down, because there is too much bullying or hate speech or whatever they find offensive? That is where these type of stupid laws go. First it's your right to assemble, then it's your right to free speech.

I find it odd, that people here are negging me because I think there is too much government.

 

B/A

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

AGAIN --- your radical lefties have become MORE RADICAL and, spurned on by cash money, are

more willing to act up and act out more often and to a greater degree on a regular basis .

And THAT bears exploring enhanced measures by Legislators in order to better protect Americans

from these radicals, anarchists and terrorists.

 

We pay our Legislators to keep WE The Peoples' best interests at the forefront.

They're just doing their jobs.

 

If WE The People feel it is gubment over-reach --- we'll CHECK them -- that's OUR job.

 

You're "checking" them before they've had the chance to look into it because you want to protect your lefty agenda and

allow them to finish the job your king ho'bummer started by wreaking as MUCH damage as possible before THEY'RE 'checked'....

[Jaxinjersey]

18 minutes ago, bostonangler said:

I am for peaceful protests. But these type of laws open Pandora's box. Do you think all gun laws are good? Of course not. Should there be some sort of laws to keep guns out of the hands of felons? Yup. But do we really need all the thousands of stupid gun laws that followed? Nope. How do you stop this government control once it starts?

My point is, that we don't need to add more laws to the books. I think we need to take some laws off the books. And because of a few stupid people the reaction is to legislate. Do you think if these laws were passed, some jackass wouldn't try to expand them?

What about all of us here? We have discussions that sometimes turn ugly or even hateful. Do we want some congressman to say we need to shut it down, because there is too much bullying or hate speech or whatever they find offensive? That is where these type of stupid laws go. First it's your right to assemble, then it's your right to free speech.

I find it odd, that people here are negging me because I think there is too much government.

 

B/A

Hi B/A... Perhaps you could revise your narrative?!  You are pointing out the "flaws" of such legislation... but not offering any solutions... other than, again, some sort of equivalence mandate...

As pointed out by some here... perhaps the laws need to be "sharpened".  But, I would much rather see the laws ENFORCED, vigorously.  THAT starts with DEFINING the parameters and boundaries of "protests".  And the real problem is that since the lines are blurred... evil-intentioned "protesters" are taking advantage of the lax in protection and enforcement.... and TOO MANY innocents are being harmed, many very seriously.

I will further contend, that there is a false-equivalence premise and narrative being applied to both "sides" of the protest actions.  We see with our own eyes, that Conservatives do not riot, harm and destroy.  It is a simple but stark honest contrast.  Of course there is the occasional anomaly... but most conservative "criminally-intentioned" thugs are easily pointed out and held accountable.  They do not wear masks! LOL

Anyway... let's discuss solutions, rather than wishing people would just behave the way we want them to!

Edited January 24, 2017 by Jaxinjersey

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

BRAVO ! JAXinJ ! BRAVISSIMO ! 

[bostonangler]

8 minutes ago, Jaxinjersey said:

Hi B/A... Perhaps you could revise your narrative?!  You are pointing out the "flaws" of such legislation... but not offering any solutions... other than, again, some sort of equivalence mandate...

As pointed out by some here... perhaps the laws need to be "sharpened".  But, I would much rather see the laws ENFORCED, vigorously.  THAT starts with DEFINING the parameters and boundaries of "protests".  And the real problem is that since the lines are blurred... evil-intentioned "protesters" are taking advantage of the lax in protection and enforcement.... and TOO MANY innocents are being harmed, many very seriously.

I will further contend, that there is a false-equivalence premise and narrative being applied to both "sides" of the protest actions.  We see with our own eyes, that Conservatives do not riot, harm and destroy.  It is a simple but stark honest contrast.  Of course there is the occasional anomaly... but most conservative "criminally-intentioned" thugs are easily pointed out and held accountable.  They do not wear masks! LOL

Anyway... let's discuss solutions, rather than wishing people would just behave the way we want them to!

Jax, perhaps you didn't read my post above with the reaction to the election in 2008. Real news. Real people. Real sad. It is both sides of the equation. I just don't like government growing more and more into our daily lives. As for a solution? What they did last week. Arrest those who are out of hand.

Is this really a big problem. What, were there 1/2 million people marching and 200 arrested? I think it was handled well. Do you want your congressman to add to this system that seemed to work?

How about posting here. What if someone with a thin skin decided that there was too much bullying here, do we want them to legislate what we can or cannot say because some mamby pamby person is offended? That will be next. They will want to make sure we all get along.

Again, I'm talking less government and it appears people here are in favor of more government control. Did I just step into Bizzaro Land?

 

B/A

P.S.

I have to ask. Are people really living in the type of fear I see here on a daily basis? In a protest march of 4 or 500,000 people and 200 get out of hand, is this reason to be fearful? I just don't see it. Do we want law enforcement standing on every corner to be sure one person doesn't get crazy. Maybe some people want that kind of lack of freedom. I'm not one of them. To live in a free society, comes with some risk, otherwise we are not free.