Legislature considering bills that may discourage peaceful protests
Last summer, as folks were discussing the Black Lives Matter protests, some opined that it was okay to protest, but not to become violent or destroy property. In their eyes, protesters and rioters were the same. Currently, the legislature is considering multiple bills to silence protest in Ohio: House Bills 109 and 22 and Senate Bills 16 and 41. They would assign guilt without the presumption of innocence. They treat peaceful protesters and rioters as mutually inclusive and assign guilt by association.
These bills would change misdemeanors to felonies, increase fines, add prison time, and make organizations and individuals liable for damages even if they did not participate in vandalism, and allow police to bring civil suits against them. These new crimes include distracting a law enforcement officer’s attention, based on the officer’s interpretation. Blocking a sidewalk becomes a felony if part of a “riot.”
The First Amendment guarantees “the right of the people peaceably to assemble ... ” When crowds assemble, it is impossible to guarantee that all intend to protest peaceably or that some actions by law enforcement won’t instigate violence. The language of these bills is vague and open to interpretation. These new provisions have the effect of discouraging peaceful protests. Peaceful protests were how women got the vote, how the Civil Rights Movement ended Jim Crow laws, and how the LGBTQ community gained legal rights.
Currently, laws are in place to punish people for property damage and for violence against first responders. Identify your Ohio State Senator and State Representative at legislature.ohio.gov/legislators/ district-maps. Then call them and let them know that you support the First Amendment and oppose these bills as written.
Susan O’donnell, Columbus