Trump Era, Republicans Push New Laws to 'Chill Protest' Nationwide

[Jimbo101]

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/01/19/verge-trump-era-republicans-push-new-laws-chill-protest-nationwide

Republican legislators are proposing laws that would criminalize nonviolent protest in North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Washington, and Iowa

Republican lawmakers around the country are pushing legislation that would criminalize and penalize nonviolent protest, apparently anticipating an upswell of civic engagement during the coming Trump administration.

Spencer Woodman reported at The Intercept Thursday on the anti-protest bills proposed in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, and North Dakota.

"Over the past few weeks, Republican legislators across the country have quietly introduced a number of proposals to criminalize and discourage peaceful protest," Woodman wrote.

Among a swath of bills proposed in North Dakota that would allow police to crack down further on public protests, the state legislature put forth one that would legalize running over protesters, as Common Dreams reported.

It appears GOP lawmakers in other states are thinking similarly.

Woodman summarizes:

In Minnesota, a bill introduced by Republicans last week seeks to dramatically stiffen fines for freeway protests and would allow prosecutors to seek a full year of jail time for protesters blocking a highway. Republicans in Washington state have proposed a plan to reclassify as a felony civil disobedience protests that are deemed "economic terrorism." Republicans in Michigan introduced and then last month shelved an anti-picketing law that would increase penalties against protestors and would make it easier for businesses to sue individual protestors for their actions. And in Iowa a Republican lawmaker has pledged to introduce legislation to crack down on highway protests.

[marybourg]

1. They haven't gotten control of the judiciary YET

and these attempts are completely UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Yes I'm yelling!

[Angry Dragon]

2. however Congress left many judge vacancies that Obama nominated

so they have more than usual to work with

[tazkcmo]

3. Obstructing traffic

is already illegal so no problem there. Protesting on the highway seems to me highly dangerous to the protesters and users so I think it's pretty foolish to do so. Stopping traffic, say at a busy intersection, falls under civil disobedience and getting arrested is part and parcel of civil disobedience. So the real issue seems to boil down to the definition of cruel and unusual punishment in these cases?

By using the term "economic terrorism", I suspect the GOPee is planning on sending protesters to GITMO.

[Initech]

4. We must take the constitution literally! But they're going to outlaw freedom of protest?