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Lawmakers Push Anti-Protest Laws as Mass Resistance to Trump Sweeps U.S.

HeadlineFeb 01, 2017

More anti-protest laws are being pushed by lawmakers across the country amid the wave of mass demonstrations against Donald Trump’s presidency. In Iowa, lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make blocking traffic a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Minnesota lawmakers are pushing an anti-protest bill that would allow cities to sue protesters in order to charge them for the cost of policing the demonstrations. In North Dakota, lawmakers have introduced a bill that would legalize accidentally running over protesters who are blocking traffic. Washington state lawmakers are pushing a bill that would label protests as “economic terrorism.” And in Indiana, Republican legislators have introduced a bill that would empower police to remove protesters blocking traffic using “any means necessary,” legislation activists have dubbed the “block traffic and you die” bill. The new bills come as more than 200 activists are facing up to 10 years in prison on felony riot charges for protesting against Donald Trump’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.

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