Bill to ? down on Minnesota protesters appears to be national trend…
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http://www.startribune.com/house-hearing-ends-amid-protest-after-bill-cracking-down-on-demonstrators-moves-forward/411660166/
Minnesota joins other states legislating to discourage large demonstrations
A confrontation between protesters and legislators in St. Paul on Tuesday underscored the nation's deepening political divide in which lawmakers in at least eight states are considering crackdowns on demonstrations.
Chants and shouting erupted after a House committee voted to pass a GOP-led measure that could make protesters financially liable if police must intervene.
Minnesota is joining a growing number of states looking to discourage large, disruptive protests.
Measures aimed at toughening laws against demonstrators have been introduced in North Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, Virginia and Washington state as protests have proliferated in recent months over issues ranging from police shootings to oil pipelines.
"I don't think this is a coincidence that this is happening at a time in our nation where there are widespread movements led by people of color for racial equality," said Teresa Nelson, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Minnesota. "It is very troubling that we would see this kind of suppression and these attempts to intimidate people who are engaging in constitutionally protected speech and civil disobedience."
In Minnesota, groups have waged large rallies after the police shootings of Jamar Clark and Philando Castile, demonstrations that blocked roadways, disrupted the airport and resulted in a weekslong encampment at a north Minneapolis police station.
Rep. Nick Zerwas, R-Elk River, said residents are tiring of the disruptive protests.
"I think there is a push on the part of the people who I represent and I think Minnesotans think it's time we get tough on people who block freeways and try to close down airports," he said in interview.
Meeting ends abruptly
Tuesday's committee meeting ended abruptly after a House panel passed Zerwas' proposed legislation that would give cities authority to charge protesters for police services if the demonstrators are convicted of illegal assembly or public nuisance. The measure would also give cities the option of suing convicted protesters to recoup expenses from policing the demonstration.
"The meters are running and the taxpayers are holding the bag," Zerwas said.
A large crowd that opposed the bill angrily denounced the lawmakers in the House Civil Law Committee after they passed the measure on a party-line vote. Republicans supported the legislation while DFLers opposed it.
Zerwas said that $2.4 million had been spent over 18 months for the policing of protests in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington, particularly during the blockades of I-94 in St. Paul and I-35W. Zerwas said he arrived at his total policing cost by adding up estimates in media reports.
Among those testifying against the bill on Tuesday was John Thompson of St. Paul, an employee of the St. Paul Public Schools and a friend of Castile, who was shot by police during a traffic stop. After the vote, a visibly upset Thompson stood and pointed at the legislators.
"My friend's blood is on the streets of St. Anthony," shouted Thompson. "It's a crime to be a black, to be a black man driving down the street. That's why we protested."
Rep. Ilhan Omar, DFL-Minneapolis, said she opposed the measure.
"In Minneapolis there is a lot of money paid out because police use excessive force," Omar said to Zerwas. "Who should be responsible for that?"
"That's a good question for your City Council and mayor," responded Zerwas.
Omar then told Zerwas he might want to co-author a bill with her that would make police who engage in excessive force responsible for the payouts to victims.
Zerwas did not reply.
Other states in line
Lawmakers in other states have their own ideas for containing demonstrators. A bill in Iowa would make it a felony for people to intentionally block traffic on highways. North Dakota is considering legislation that would protect drivers from legal consequences if they inadvertently hit, injure or ? pedestrians who are obstructing traffic. The bill is a direct response to the massive protests to stop construction of an oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.
In Indiana, a lawmaker introduced a bill that directs law enforcement to use "any means necessary" to break up mass gatherings that block traffic, and a Washington state lawmaker is preparing a bill that would create a crime of "economic terrorism" — blocking streets and causing property damage.
Zerwas also introduced a measure to raise penalties from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor for people who block traffic or access to freeways, airports or light rail tracks, all actions that have taken place in connection with Black Lives Matter protests in Minnesota.
Attorney Jordan Kushner, who is on the coordinating committee of the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and represents several protesters cited on I-94 last July, criticized the national trend.
"These are reactionary voices who are out to quash dissent, all directed at Black Lives Matter — right wing legislators who are catering to the prejudices of their base," said Kushner. "It's the Donald Trump trend at the state level."
Zerwas said he found the comment offensive.
"My voters in Elk River and Big Lake are not prejudiced," he said. "That's ridiculous. What we've heard time and time again is that these groups of protesters believe their rights supersede others by thinking they can block roads and have no consequences."
Although Zerwas' bill would allow city attorneys to sue for reimbursement of public safety costs incurred for illegal blockages, St. Paul city attorney Samuel Clark opposes it.
"As a city, we are always looking to strike the right balance between First Amendment rights and public safety," Clark said. "This bill is a misguided attempt to solve the real costs cities like ours incur when responding to large scale, mass protests. We will continue to be open to ideas for solving for those costs while still supporting First Amendment rights."
Comments
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White people hafta know they suck. Like, deep down, REALLY know that the world hates them and poc probably would've knocked them all off by now if they hadn't mastered how to be savages so efficiently.
I know there are those that that doesn't apply to, but generally speaking, they really ? suck. -
Like Water wrote: »White people hafta know they suck. Like, deep down, REALLY know that the world hates them and poc probably would've knocked them all off by now if they hadn't mastered how to be savages so efficiently.
I know there are those that that doesn't apply to, but generally speaking, they really ? suck.
We never see "those that doesn't apply to" act out....they just accept their privilege and shrug -
jetlifebih wrote: »Like Water wrote: »White people hafta know they suck. Like, deep down, REALLY know that the world hates them and poc probably would've knocked them all off by now if they hadn't mastered how to be savages so efficiently.
I know there are those that that doesn't apply to, but generally speaking, they really ? suck.
We never see "those that doesn't apply to" act out....they just accept their privilege and shrug
There's a few here and there, but you're right for the most part. The world would be better for everyone if there were a few more Tim Wise's and Jane Elliot's. -
Like Water wrote: »White people hafta know they suck. Like, deep down, REALLY know that the world hates them and poc probably would've knocked them all off by now if they hadn't mastered how to be savages so efficiently.
I know there are those that that doesn't apply to, but generally speaking, they really ? suck.
Most people hate the protestors up here after they blocked the road to the airport off over the holidays. They didn't win any favors keeping people from seeing their family for Christmas. -
Y'all had to know this was coming. Trump was basically saying that when he was campaigning.
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Like Water wrote: »White people hafta know they suck. Like, deep down, REALLY know that the world hates them and poc probably would've knocked them all off by now if they hadn't mastered how to build the gun so efficiently.
I know there are those that that doesn't apply to, but generally speaking, they really ? suck.
fixed the bolded for ya pimpin -
Will Munny wrote: »Like Water wrote: »White people hafta know they suck. Like, deep down, REALLY know that the world hates them and poc probably would've knocked them all off by now if they hadn't mastered how to be savages so efficiently.
I know there are those that that doesn't apply to, but generally speaking, they really ? suck.
Most people hate the protestors up here after they blocked the road to the airport off over the holidays. They didn't win any favors keeping people from seeing their family for Christmas.
There's a reason for the protests. If (white people) people actually stopped, listened and acknowledged what the ? minorities have been yelling about, then people wouldn't be out blocking traffic during Christmas.
How can I give a ? about you seeing your family for Christmas if my kid has been killed without reason and the perpetrator is gonna get off scot-free?
People are tired of the lack of empathy, the apathy, the resistance and indifference to the lack of human rights that everyone should be afforded.
It's ironic that the European settlers referred to native americans as savages, when their actions were far more devious and morally and ethically reprehensible. Nothing has changed since then either.
They'll never be the bad guy. It's always the other person's fault. The kings of throwing stones and hiding hands. No accountability for ? .
Sorry, @Will Munny, but your brethren is responsible for just about all of the world's suffering and hardships. You'd be hard-pressed to convince me otherwise. -
Oh, and @Will Munny, I hold white folks like you even more accountable for some of this ? ? . By you being a regular member on a website like this, and actively engaging in dialogue that may be uncomfortable to you, it let's me know that you're more than aware of the injustices that non-whites face.
It's your responsibility to call out ? when you encounter it. You can't be considered a "good cop" if you let the ? slide. I can call people out all day (I have too), but it means more coming from someone that looks like them.
I'm not saying you haven't already done/said things that make you unpopular to the white masses, but discrimination and hate will eventually consume this society if people let it. -
Like Water wrote: »Will Munny wrote: »Like Water wrote: »White people hafta know they suck. Like, deep down, REALLY know that the world hates them and poc probably would've knocked them all off by now if they hadn't mastered how to be savages so efficiently.
I know there are those that that doesn't apply to, but generally speaking, they really ? suck.
Most people hate the protestors up here after they blocked the road to the airport off over the holidays. They didn't win any favors keeping people from seeing their family for Christmas.
There's a reason for the protests. If (white people) people actually stopped, listened and acknowledged what the ? minorities have been yelling about, then people wouldn't be out blocking traffic during Christmas.
How can I give a ? about you seeing your family for Christmas if my kid has been killed without reason and the perpetrator is gonna get off scot-free?
People are tired of the lack of empathy, the apathy, the resistance and indifference to the lack of human rights that everyone should be afforded.
It's ironic that the European settlers referred to native americans as savages, when their actions were far more devious and morally and ethically reprehensible. Nothing has changed since then either.
They'll never be the bad guy. It's always the other person's fault. The kings of throwing stones and hiding hands. No accountability for ? .
Sorry, @Will Munny, but your brethren is responsible for just about all of the world's suffering and hardships. You'd be hard-pressed to convince me otherwise.
Okay first off, from solely a human nature perspective, nobody is gonna respond well to being ? with, especially people that had nothing to do with any police shooting. I don't get why BLM didn't just keep occupying police stations. Like the one in No. Minneapolis the two cops who shot Jaymar Clarke worked out of. Make the cops lives miserable, their the ones pulling the trigger, not normal people. You'll disagree with me but thats ok. We've had some of the more heinous of the shootings as well. Hard to find one worse than Phillando Castile.
To say that white people account for all the worlds suffering is kind of absurd, but if there's nothing I can say to convince, you I won't bother.
and btw the majority of people at BLM protests here in MN are white. And I totally agree if you let ? slide, you are not one of the "good cops". Take a stand like Michael Wood did, even tho he's a damn communist that wants to end the production of all fire arms so only rich people can afford them.
