Chuck DarwinNew protest laws are impacting political demonstrations
While serving in the Florida state legislature, #Randy #Fine helped pass legislation that provides some
π protection under certain circumstances to
π₯drivers who hit protesters blocking roadways.
In Congress, the Republican representative has introduced a similar bill
β what he calls the
β#Thump #Thump #Actβ
β for drivers who may encounter protesters in other parts of the country.
β©βWhen the consequences for inappropriate behavior are severe enough, people will stop doing it,β Fine said.
βBlocking roads is a form of political terrorism.
π₯They should get run over.β
β©Florida is one of more than a dozen states that have cracked down on protests in recent years,
π passing laws that often equate political demonstrations with riots in ways that #First #Amendment experts say could be illegal.β©β©π Since 2017, 23 states have passed at least 55 laws to address how and when people can protest,
according to the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law,
which tracks such statutes.
βThe laws do such things as mandate at least 30 days in jail for rioting
β often loosely defined as a group involved in tumultuous or potentially violent behavior
β restrict protests on college campuses,
and imprison and fine people who block sidewalks, streets and highways.β©β©Some lawmakers like Fine want #federal #legislation that mirrors those efforts.
Among the 16 pending federal bills are proposals to
β¦οΈ tighten restrictions on protesting near federal judges, jurors or court staff;
β¦οΈstrip nonprofits of their tax status for certain protest-related activities;
β¦οΈand block people convicted of rioting from small business aid.
β©First Amendment advocates warn that the patchwork of state laws,
pending federal bills and court battles risk β οΈrewriting the rules of public demonstrations.
There are already laws to prosecute violent behavior,
making these new efforts unnecessary, they say.
β©There have been few arrests or prosecutions under the recently passed protest laws,
but free-speech advocates say the measures can be used to #control or #dissuade would-be #demonstrators.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/01/02/anti-protest-laws-randy-fine/
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