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Casting aspersions on protesters has been a go-to political strategy for centuries. The most commonly heard accusation today is that "most" of the visible marchers and sign-wavers are actually professionals who are being paid — from someone, somewhere — to be out causing a ruckus. Such excuses were used to explain the rise of the right-wing Tea Party (supposedly financed by the Koch brothers, of course), and now they are being trotted out to dismiss the millions who have materialized for and against various causes since the election and inauguration of President Trump. Only this time, Republican legislators are attempting to actually shut down certain modes of protest.
As the Washington Post reported, at least 18 states have introduced or voted on legislation that would curb current provisions for protesters. Given that Republicans control 68 state chambers, as opposed to just 31 for Democrats, the opportunity for such bills to pass seems relatively high. However, as of now, not a single one of these proposed changes has made it through the legislative process into actual law. That's a bit of good news in an otherwise disappointing reaction to legitimate protest in the age of Trump.
Here are just a few of the states that either already have introduced or are considering legislation to limit protest.
6
Virginia Voted Down A Bill Seeking To Jail Persons Who Did Not Leave "Unlawful" Protests
Introduced by a Republican in Virginia's senate, Senate Bill 1055 sought harsher punishment for protesters who stayed at an event after it had been shut down and they'd been asked to leave. The bill would make jail a possibility for offenders, whereas before protester could only be given a fine. Virginia's state Senate rejected the bill with a bipartisan majority vote against it.
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Washington State Proposes Harsher Punishment For "Economic Terrorism"
Introduced by Rep. Doug Ericksen, now also acting in a temporary role for Trump's EPA, Senate Bill 5009 would put harsher penalties on protesters who disrupt commerce or otherwise harm economic interests. The bill has not been taken up for a vote yet.
That every single one of these bills has been introduced by Republicans should give everyone pause. Legislation with similar aim has also been put forward in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Dakota. It looks more like a state-by-state attempt to discourage protest against a Republican president and his policies than a genuine effort to protect the peace and uphold the law.