U.S. State Governments Move To Boost Penalties For Unlawful Demonstartions

Demonstrators block Interstate 94 during a protest for slain black motorist Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minn., in July. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Washington Post: How far can protesters go before the government steps in?

The protests of 2016, against pipelines and police shootings and a presidential candidate, have sparked lawmakers in eight states to consider bills boosting penalties for unlawful demonstrations. They include one that would protect drivers who “unintentionally” run over activists blocking roads and another aimed at forcing protesters to pay up to three times the costs of any damage they caused.

In Washington state, a lawmaker termed some protests “economic terrorism” and introduced a bill that would permit judges to tack on an additional year in jail to a sentence if the protester was “attempting to or causing an economic disruption.”

In Minnesota, a person convicted of participating or being present at “an unlawful assembly” could be held liable for costs incurred by police and other public agencies.

And in Indiana, a proposed law would direct police encountering a mass traffic obstruction to clear the road by “any means necessary,” echoing a phrase made famous by Malcolm X during the 1960s civil rights movement.

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WNU Editor: I have been in protests before .... too many to count in Moscow, and being at the massive 1995 pro-Canada demonstration in Montreal on the eve of Quebec referendum on separation. But they were all peaceful and civil .... no damage was done, and our point was made. I am also someone who got stuck a few years ago in the middle of a riot in Montreal while leaving a business meeting to go visit a friend .... and being teargassed because of it (again .... thank-you Jay for your recommendation on how to minimize the impact of teargas on one's body .... it worked). But the worse experience was being with a friend whose brand new car was vandalized by G20 rioters in Toronto in 2010 .... and we were powerless to do anything about it because if we did .... we would have probably ended up in the hospital with bruises or broken bones .... or worse. So naturally .... I have a very low tolerance for protestors who decide to do more than just protesting. So that is why I say enough is enough .... if you are willing to cause damage in a protest you better be willing to pay the consequences .... both legally and civilly. In the case of the U.S. .... there are many groups that are organizing and funding these demonstrations that turn into riots .... they should also be held liable for the consequences. Unfortunately .... this does open Pandora's Box on what to do to limit protests that turn violent .... and where this will all eventually lead should make us all shudder. But on the flip side .... like I said .... for many of us "enough is enough" because our rights also need to be respected and protected.