They have tried criminalizing dissent in several other states, and now this “economic terrorism” bill filed today in North Carolina shows once again that Republicans value money and power more than civil rights, the Constitution, or democracy itself.
What would the founders say? What would Martin Luther King say?
AN ACT TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF ECONOMIC TERRORISM, TO ESTABLISH CIVIL LIABILITY FOR ECONOMIC TERRORISM, TO CREATE A DUTY FOR A RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC OFFICIAL TO TAKE ACTION TO CLEAR TRAFFIC OBSTRUCTIONS RESULTING FROM UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES, TO INCREASE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC WHILE PARTICIPATING IN UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES, AND TO PROVIDE CIVIL LIABILITY FOR THE COSTS OF RESPONDING TO TRAFFIC OBSTRUCTIONS AND CERTAIN OTHER UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES.
Read it at http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2017/Bills/House/PDF/H249v0.pdf
My friend Darren had some important comments about this on Facebook. Here are some key excerpts:
“They’re also trying to let state agencies sue us, individual citizens who are speaking out, for the “public safety response costs”.”
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“If this becomes law in NC, it could apply to civil disobedience at Moral Monday rallies, HB2 boycotts, or any of the numerous spontaneous protests that will be necessary to resist the Trump regime and fight for one another in the coming years.”
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” John Torbett, the bill’s sponsor, ran uncontested in the 2016 election.”