#demonstrators — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #demonstrators, aggregated by home.social.
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Univity funds VLEO 5G demonstrators with $32 million Series A
https://atlas.whatip.xyz/post.php?slug=univity-funds-vleo-5g-demonstrators-with-32-million-series-a
<p>French startup Univity has raised around $32 million to deploy a pair of 5G demonstrators into very low
#demonstrators #univity #million #startup -
Univity funds VLEO 5G demonstrators with $32 million Series A
https://atlas.whatip.xyz/post.php?slug=univity-funds-vleo-5g-demonstrators-with-32-million-series-a
<p>French startup Univity has raised around $32 million to deploy a pair of 5G demonstrators into very low
#demonstrators #univity #million #startup -
#US #Marines opened fire on #demonstrators during the storming of the #Karachi #consulate over the weekend, 2 US ofcls said Monday—a rare #UseOfForce at a #diplomatic post that could sharply escalate tensions in the country amid widespread protests over the killing of Iran's leader.
10 people were #killed Sunday when protesters breached the compound’s outer wall after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali #Khamenei was killed in strikes on #Iran.
#war #Trump #crime #law
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-marines-fired-protesters-storming-consulate-karachi-officials-say-2026-03-03/?utm_source=braze&utm_medium=notifications&utm_campaign=2025_engagement -
#US #Marines opened fire on #demonstrators during the storming of the #Karachi #consulate over the weekend, 2 US ofcls said Monday—a rare #UseOfForce at a #diplomatic post that could sharply escalate tensions in the country amid widespread protests over the killing of Iran's leader.
10 people were #killed Sunday when protesters breached the compound’s outer wall after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali #Khamenei was killed in strikes on #Iran.
#war #Trump #crime #law
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-marines-fired-protesters-storming-consulate-karachi-officials-say-2026-03-03/?utm_source=braze&utm_medium=notifications&utm_campaign=2025_engagement -
Demonstrators in Los Gatos call for regime change in Iran
Demonstrators in Los Gatos call for regime change in Iran
#Iran #Demonstratorshttps://opr.news/9306e9f260210en_us?link=1&client=ex_global
Download Now
https://opr.as/share -
At one point, Gregory Bovino, the #BorderPatrol leader who was the face of the admin’s #immigration crackdown in #LosAngeles, #Chicago & #Minneapolis, called federal #prosecutors, pressing them to charge #demonstrators with #crimes. When a prosecutor asked what the operation’s end goal was, several people familiar with the call recalled #Bovino saying that he did not intend to “calm it down,” but instead, he said, “We’re going to put it down.”
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At one point, Gregory Bovino, the #BorderPatrol leader who was the face of the admin’s #immigration crackdown in #LosAngeles, #Chicago & #Minneapolis, called federal #prosecutors, pressing them to charge #demonstrators with #crimes. When a prosecutor asked what the operation’s end goal was, several people familiar with the call recalled #Bovino saying that he did not intend to “calm it down,” but instead, he said, “We’re going to put it down.”
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The mobilization comes after throngs of #demonstrators protested in the snow Friday night near the Bishop Henry #Whipple Federal Building in the #Minneapolis area.
“Stay safe & stay peaceful today,” #TimWalz urged the public in a social media post Saturday. “Our public safety team has the resources, coordination, & personnel on the ground to maintain public safety & respond if needed. Thanks to local law enforcement for keeping the peace.”
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The mobilization comes after throngs of #demonstrators protested in the snow Friday night near the Bishop Henry #Whipple Federal Building in the #Minneapolis area.
“Stay safe & stay peaceful today,” #TimWalz urged the public in a social media post Saturday. “Our public safety team has the resources, coordination, & personnel on the ground to maintain public safety & respond if needed. Thanks to local law enforcement for keeping the peace.”
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Tensions are flaring in the #Minneapolis area, as #protesters & “law enforcement” clash after an #ICE agent fatally shot a woman yesterday. #PepperBalls have been fired toward a crowd of #demonstrators outside a federal building, with agents also deploying a #gas-like substance.
#ReneeNicoleGood #Trump #law #murder #ExtraJudicialKillings #RightToProtest #FreedomOfAssembly #UseOfForce #PoliceBrutality #Constitution #CivilRights #fascism #tyranny #Sturmabteilung #RESIST
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/minneapolis-ice-shooting-01-08-26?post-id=cmk5j135v00053b6pazaw785p -
Tensions are flaring in the #Minneapolis area, as #protesters & “law enforcement” clash after an #ICE agent fatally shot a woman yesterday. #PepperBalls have been fired toward a crowd of #demonstrators outside a federal building, with agents also deploying a #gas-like substance.
#ReneeNicoleGood #Trump #law #murder #ExtraJudicialKillings #RightToProtest #FreedomOfAssembly #UseOfForce #PoliceBrutality #Constitution #CivilRights #fascism #tyranny #Sturmabteilung #RESIST
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/minneapolis-ice-shooting-01-08-26?post-id=cmk5j135v00053b6pazaw785p -
New protest laws are impacting political demonstrations
While serving in the Florida state legislature, #Randy #Fine helped pass legislation that provides some
🆘 protection under certain circumstances to
🔥drivers who hit protesters blocking roadways.In Congress, the Republican representative has introduced a similar bill
— what he calls the
“#Thump #Thump #Act”
— for drivers who may encounter protesters in other parts of the country.
“When the consequences for inappropriate behavior are severe enough, people will stop doing it,” Fine said.“Blocking roads is a form of political terrorism.
💥They should get run over.”
Florida is one of more than a dozen states that have cracked down on protests in recent years,
👉 passing laws that often equate political demonstrations with riots in ways that #First #Amendment experts say could be illegal. 🆘 Since 2017, 23 states have passed at least 55 laws to address how and when people can protest,
according to the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law,
which tracks such statutes.❌The laws do such things as mandate at least 30 days in jail for rioting
— often loosely defined as a group involved in tumultuous or potentially violent behavior
— restrict protests on college campuses,
and imprison and fine people who block sidewalks, streets and highways. Some lawmakers like Fine want #federal #legislation that mirrors those efforts.Among the 16 pending federal bills are proposals to
♦️ tighten restrictions on protesting near federal judges, jurors or court staff;
♦️strip nonprofits of their tax status for certain protest-related activities;
♦️and block people convicted of rioting from small business aid.First Amendment advocates warn that the patchwork of state laws,
pending federal bills and court battles risk ⚠️rewriting the rules of public demonstrations.There are already laws to prosecute violent behavior,
making these new efforts unnecessary, they say.
There have been few arrests or prosecutions under the recently passed protest laws,
but free-speech advocates say the measures can be used to #control or #dissuade would-be #demonstrators.https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/01/02/anti-protest-laws-randy-fine/
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New protest laws are impacting political demonstrations
While serving in the Florida state legislature, #Randy #Fine helped pass legislation that provides some
🆘 protection under certain circumstances to
🔥drivers who hit protesters blocking roadways.In Congress, the Republican representative has introduced a similar bill
— what he calls the
“#Thump #Thump #Act”
— for drivers who may encounter protesters in other parts of the country.
“When the consequences for inappropriate behavior are severe enough, people will stop doing it,” Fine said.“Blocking roads is a form of political terrorism.
💥They should get run over.”
Florida is one of more than a dozen states that have cracked down on protests in recent years,
👉 passing laws that often equate political demonstrations with riots in ways that #First #Amendment experts say could be illegal. 🆘 Since 2017, 23 states have passed at least 55 laws to address how and when people can protest,
according to the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law,
which tracks such statutes.❌The laws do such things as mandate at least 30 days in jail for rioting
— often loosely defined as a group involved in tumultuous or potentially violent behavior
— restrict protests on college campuses,
and imprison and fine people who block sidewalks, streets and highways. Some lawmakers like Fine want #federal #legislation that mirrors those efforts.Among the 16 pending federal bills are proposals to
♦️ tighten restrictions on protesting near federal judges, jurors or court staff;
♦️strip nonprofits of their tax status for certain protest-related activities;
♦️and block people convicted of rioting from small business aid.First Amendment advocates warn that the patchwork of state laws,
pending federal bills and court battles risk ⚠️rewriting the rules of public demonstrations.There are already laws to prosecute violent behavior,
making these new efforts unnecessary, they say.
There have been few arrests or prosecutions under the recently passed protest laws,
but free-speech advocates say the measures can be used to #control or #dissuade would-be #demonstrators.https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/01/02/anti-protest-laws-randy-fine/
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#AppealsCourt #overrules federal judge who wanted rogue #BorderPatrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino to appear daily in local courtroom to justify activities..
Previously Bovino has sicced his forces on civilians and been rampaging thru #Chicago teargassing neighborhoods and beating #demonstrators, and now due to separation of powers argument, doesn't have to report daily to civilian authorities to explain activities.
Bovino and other #FederalAgents had violated a temporary #RestrainingOrder largely prohibiting the use of #TearGas and other #riot control measures on #journalists, protesters, and clergy members during Operation #MidwayBlitz in the #Midwest metropolis ordered by #Drumpf admin in a political stunt against #Democrat run cities.
Previously the #CommanderInChief has ordered #military style invasions after he decreed that many of America's cities should be used as “training grounds” in the #battle against the “enemy within.”
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#AppealsCourt #overrules federal judge who wanted rogue #BorderPatrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino to appear daily in local courtroom to justify activities..
Previously Bovino has sicced his forces on civilians and been rampaging thru #Chicago teargassing neighborhoods and beating #demonstrators, and now due to separation of powers argument, doesn't have to report daily to civilian authorities to explain activities.
Bovino and other #FederalAgents had violated a temporary #RestrainingOrder largely prohibiting the use of #TearGas and other #riot control measures on #journalists, protesters, and clergy members during Operation #MidwayBlitz in the #Midwest metropolis ordered by #Drumpf admin in a political stunt against #Democrat run cities.
Previously the #CommanderInChief has ordered #military style invasions after he decreed that many of America's cities should be used as “training grounds” in the #battle against the “enemy within.”
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Agents issued one warning about #TearGas but did not deploy it. They fired #PepperBalls instead toward #demonstrators before #Chicago police arrived & cleared the roadway, allowing the vehicles with agents & detainees to leave.
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd) was holding a staff meeting in her ward office around the corner when she heard whistles & ran out the door.
#Trump #law #immigration #Constitution #RightToProtest #CivilRights #PoliceBrutality #fascism #MilitaryState #Gestapo
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Agents issued one warning about #TearGas but did not deploy it. They fired #PepperBalls instead toward #demonstrators before #Chicago police arrived & cleared the roadway, allowing the vehicles with agents & detainees to leave.
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd) was holding a staff meeting in her ward office around the corner when she heard whistles & ran out the door.
#Trump #law #immigration #Constitution #RightToProtest #CivilRights #PoliceBrutality #fascism #MilitaryState #Gestapo
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The use of #TearGas has persisted in recent days despite a #CourtOrder forbidding officers from using #ChemicalAgents against #demonstrators & #journalists unless they pose a safety threat. Last week, Gregory #Bovino, the #BorderPatrol official leading the #Chicago operation, was videotaped throwing a tear-gas canister into a crowd. In another incident, #immigration officers deployed tear gas as #families were walking to a Halloween parade.
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The use of #TearGas has persisted in recent days despite a #CourtOrder forbidding officers from using #ChemicalAgents against #demonstrators & #journalists unless they pose a safety threat. Last week, Gregory #Bovino, the #BorderPatrol official leading the #Chicago operation, was videotaped throwing a tear-gas canister into a crowd. In another incident, #immigration officers deployed tear gas as #families were walking to a Halloween parade.
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Federal #immigration officers are using chemical irritants to *disperse* #protesters in ways that violate #US policing norms & are testing the boundaries of #UseOfForce #laws, video footage from #Chicago shows, in some cases [intentionally] hitting #demonstrators directly with the munitions.
#CBP & #ICE officers have deployed #TearGas in cities around the country, but its use has been especially prevalent in Chicago, where the #Trump admin launched Operation Midway Blitz in Sept…. -
Federal #immigration officers are using chemical irritants to *disperse* #protesters in ways that violate #US policing norms & are testing the boundaries of #UseOfForce #laws, video footage from #Chicago shows, in some cases [intentionally] hitting #demonstrators directly with the munitions.
#CBP & #ICE officers have deployed #TearGas in cities around the country, but its use has been especially prevalent in Chicago, where the #Trump admin launched Operation Midway Blitz in Sept…. -
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Four Ukrainian soldiers rescued after hiding in occupied territory for years -- Ukrainian drones again strike Russia's largest Rosneft refinery -- Ukraine's security guarantees must start without waiting for fighting to end -- Putin says he doesn't see much point' in meeting Zelensky -- Amid Russian economy warnings, Putin admits Central Bank struggling to cut interest rates, warns prices would rise ... and morehttps://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/09/saturday-september-6-2025/
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Saturday, September 6, 2025
Four Ukrainian soldiers rescued after hiding in occupied territory for years -- Ukrainian drones again strike Russia's largest Rosneft refinery -- Ukraine's security guarantees must start without waiting for fighting to end -- Putin says he doesn't see much point' in meeting Zelensky -- Amid Russian economy warnings, Putin admits Central Bank struggling to cut interest rates, warns prices would rise ... and morehttps://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/09/saturday-september-6-2025/
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Sunday, August 3, 2025
Russian troops resort to ‘total infiltration’ tactics in front-line Pokrovsk — Inside the Battle of Kostiantynivka, as Ukrainian forces brace for three-sided Russian assault — Ukrainian drones target Shahed storage site, industrial facilities in Russia — Ukraine’s drone strike reportedly sparks fire at oil depot in Russia’s Sochi … and more
https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/08/sunday-august-3-2025/
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Sunday, August 3, 2025
Russian troops resort to ‘total infiltration’ tactics in front-line Pokrovsk — Inside the Battle of Kostiantynivka, as Ukrainian forces brace for three-sided Russian assault — Ukrainian drones target Shahed storage site, industrial facilities in Russia — Ukraine’s drone strike reportedly sparks fire at oil depot in Russia’s Sochi … and more
https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/08/sunday-august-3-2025/
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Expect these to become illegal under the #TrumpRegime (if they aren't already)...
A #Demonstrators Guide to #ReinforcedBanners
And How to Use Them2025-06-16 via @CrimethInc
"This guide explores how to construct reinforced #banners that can function as a mobile #ShieldWall during demonstrations."To be clear, we do not encourage anyone to engage in illegal activity with banners or shields. We only offer these designs to satisfy the curiosity of historians."
#USPol #CriminalizingProtest #CommunityDefense #WeKeepOurselvesSafe #WeKeepEachOtherSafe #ACAB
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Expect these to become illegal under the #TrumpRegime (if they aren't already)...
A #Demonstrators Guide to #ReinforcedBanners
And How to Use Them2025-06-16 via @CrimethInc
"This guide explores how to construct reinforced #banners that can function as a mobile #ShieldWall during demonstrations."To be clear, we do not encourage anyone to engage in illegal activity with banners or shields. We only offer these designs to satisfy the curiosity of historians."
#USPol #CriminalizingProtest #CommunityDefense #WeKeepOurselvesSafe #WeKeepEachOtherSafe #ACAB
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Thursday, July 24, 2025
Fire engulfs iconic Odesa market amid Russian attack — China covertly supplying drone engines to Russia despite sanctions, Reuters reports — Over half of MPs suspected by NABU backed law curbing anti-corruption agency’s independence — Ukrainian soldiers slam Zelensky’s anti-corruption crackdown … and more
https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/07/thursday-july-24-2025/
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Thursday, July 24, 2025
Fire engulfs iconic Odesa market amid Russian attack — China covertly supplying drone engines to Russia despite sanctions, Reuters reports — Over half of MPs suspected by NABU backed law curbing anti-corruption agency’s independence — Ukrainian soldiers slam Zelensky’s anti-corruption crackdown … and more
https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/07/thursday-july-24-2025/
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#Demonstrators outside a #restaurant owned by an #Israeli man accused of supporting atrocities in #Palestine was #antigenocide, not #antisemitic.
https://t.me/AntifascistSolidarity/57955
#australia #ausgov #auspol #tasgov #taspol #politas #gaza #rafah #freepalestine #antinazi #antizionist
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#Demonstrators outside a #restaurant owned by an #Israeli man accused of supporting atrocities in #Palestine was #antigenocide, not #antisemitic.
https://t.me/AntifascistSolidarity/57955
#australia #ausgov #auspol #tasgov #taspol #politas #gaza #rafah #freepalestine #antinazi #antizionist
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It has been impossible to watch the news in the #US without seeing displays of military & #LawEnforcement #power — airborne pyrotechnics in the #MiddleEast, parading #tanks & #soldiers in Washington, & vistas of #NationalGuard troops, #Marines, #police officers & #immigration agents in #LosAngeles confronting thousands of mainly #peaceful #demonstrators.
#economy #inflation #stagnation #tariffs #recession #employment #immigration #war #oil
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It has been impossible to watch the news in the #US without seeing displays of military & #LawEnforcement #power — airborne pyrotechnics in the #MiddleEast, parading #tanks & #soldiers in Washington, & vistas of #NationalGuard troops, #Marines, #police officers & #immigration agents in #LosAngeles confronting thousands of mainly #peaceful #demonstrators.
#economy #inflation #stagnation #tariffs #recession #employment #immigration #war #oil
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1/2 US Protest Law Tracker - Updates to #Federal #Protest Laws introduced in 2025.
Latest updates: Jun. 10, 2025 (US Federal)
Providing for deportation of non-citizens who commit protest-related offenses
Would cancel the visa of any individual convicted of protest-related crimes and provide for the individual’s deportation within 60 days. Under the bill, individuals convicted of any “crime (i) related to [their] conduct at and during the course of a protest; (ii) involving the defacement, vandalism, or destruction of Federal property; or (iii) involving the intentional obstruction of any highway, road, bridge, or tunnel” would be deportable. The bill requires that such individuals’ visas be “immediately” cancelled and the individuals removed from the US within 60 days. If enacted, a non-citizen convicted of even a nonviolent misdemeanor “related to” a protest, such as trespass or disorderly conduct, could face deportation. The bill’s sponsor cited protests around immigration raids in #LosAngeles as the impetus for his bill.
(Full text of Bill: https://www.cotton.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/61025novisasforviolentcriminalsactreintro.pdf)
Status: pending
Introduced 10 Jun 2025.
Issue(s): Traffic InterferenceHeightened penalties for "#riot" offenses
Would amend the federal #AntiRioting law to raise the maximum penalty to ten years in prison, instead of five, for participating in or inciting a “riot,” or aiding or abetting someone to do so. The federal definition of “riot” is broad, requiring only a “public disturbance” where one individual in a group commits violence. Under the bill, someone who committed or abetted an “act of violence” during the commission of a “riot” offense would face a minimum one-year sentence, while an individual who assaulted a law enforcement officer would face a sentence of at least one year and up to life in prison. Federal law defines “act of violence” broadly to include using force against #property—or just attempting or threatening to use such force. As such, if enacted, the bill could result in steep criminal penalties for protesters who do not actually engage in violence or destructive conduct. The bill’s sponsor cited protests around immigration raids in Los Angeles as the impetus for his bill.
Status: pending
Introduced 10 Jun 2025.
Issue(s): RiotHR 2272: Blocking #FinancialAid to students who commit a "riot"-related offense
Would bar federal financial assistance and loan forgiveness for any student convicted of a crime in connection with a “riot.” The bar would apply to students convicted of “rioting” or “a) inciting a riot; b) organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying on a riot; c) committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or d) aiding or abetting any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot.” Many states define “riot” broadly enough to cover peaceful protest activity; many also have broad laws criminalizing “incitement to riot” that cover protected expression. The bill would bar financial aid and #LoanForgiveness for students convicted under such provisions. As written, the bill would also bar financial aid and loan forgiveness to students convicted of any offense related to “#organizing, #promoting, encouraging” a riot, or “aiding and abetting” incitement or participation in a riot, which could cover an even wider range of expressive conduct, from sharing a social media post to cheering on demonstrators in a protest that was deemed a “riot.”
(Full text of bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2272)
Status: pending
Introduced 21 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): #CampusProtests, Riot, Limit on #PublicBenefits#HR2273: Providing for visa revocation and deportation of #noncitizens who commit a "riot"-related offense
Would require the Secretary of State to revoke the visa of and make deportable a noncitizen #student, #scholar, #teacher, or #specialist convicted of a crime in connection with a “riot.” Under the bill, individuals in the US on an F-1, J-1, or M-1 visa would have their visas revoked and would be deportable if they were convicted of “rioting” or “a) inciting a riot; b) organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying on a riot; c) committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or d) aiding or abetting any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot.” Many states define “riot” broadly enough to cover peaceful protest activity; many also have broad laws criminalizing “incitement to riot” that cover protected expression. The bill would provide for the deportation of foreign students, scholars, and others convicted under such provisions. As written, the bill would also provide for their deportation if convicted of any offense related to “organizing, promoting, encouraging” a riot, or “aiding and abetting” incitement or participation in a riot, which could cover an even wider range of expressive conduct, from sharing a #SocialMediaPost to cheering on #demonstrators in a protest that was deemed a “riot.”
(Full text of bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2273)
Status: pending
Introduced 21 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot#S1017: New federal criminal penalties for protests near #pipelines
Would create a new federal #felony offense that could apply to protests of planned or operational pipelines. The bill would broadly criminalize under federal law “knowingly and willfully” “#vandalizing, tampering with, disrupting the operation or construction of, or preventing the operation or construction of” a gas pipeline. A range of peaceful activities could be deemed “disrupting… the construction of” a pipeline, from a rally that obstructs a road used by construction equipment, to a #lawsuit challenging a pipeline’s #permit or# zoning approval. The bill does not define “disrupt,” such that even a brief delay would seemingly be covered. Further, the underlying law provides that any "attempt" or "conspiracy" to commit the offense would be punished the same as actual commission. As such, individuals as well as organizations that engage in the planning or facilitation of a protest that is deemed to “disrupt” pipeline construction could be covered. The offense would be punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for an individual, or $500,000 for an organization.
(Full text of bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1017)
Status: pending
Introduced 13 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, #Infrastructure
#ProtestLaws #protestors #protestors_in_prison #CivilLiberties #Fascism #USA #USPol #NoKings #Project2025 #TrumpIsAFascist -
1/2 US Protest Law Tracker - Updates to #Federal #Protest Laws introduced in 2025.
Latest updates: Jun. 10, 2025 (US Federal)
Providing for deportation of non-citizens who commit protest-related offenses
Would cancel the visa of any individual convicted of protest-related crimes and provide for the individual’s deportation within 60 days. Under the bill, individuals convicted of any “crime (i) related to [their] conduct at and during the course of a protest; (ii) involving the defacement, vandalism, or destruction of Federal property; or (iii) involving the intentional obstruction of any highway, road, bridge, or tunnel” would be deportable. The bill requires that such individuals’ visas be “immediately” cancelled and the individuals removed from the US within 60 days. If enacted, a non-citizen convicted of even a nonviolent misdemeanor “related to” a protest, such as trespass or disorderly conduct, could face deportation. The bill’s sponsor cited protests around immigration raids in #LosAngeles as the impetus for his bill.
(Full text of Bill: https://www.cotton.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/61025novisasforviolentcriminalsactreintro.pdf)
Status: pending
Introduced 10 Jun 2025.
Issue(s): Traffic InterferenceHeightened penalties for "#riot" offenses
Would amend the federal #AntiRioting law to raise the maximum penalty to ten years in prison, instead of five, for participating in or inciting a “riot,” or aiding or abetting someone to do so. The federal definition of “riot” is broad, requiring only a “public disturbance” where one individual in a group commits violence. Under the bill, someone who committed or abetted an “act of violence” during the commission of a “riot” offense would face a minimum one-year sentence, while an individual who assaulted a law enforcement officer would face a sentence of at least one year and up to life in prison. Federal law defines “act of violence” broadly to include using force against #property—or just attempting or threatening to use such force. As such, if enacted, the bill could result in steep criminal penalties for protesters who do not actually engage in violence or destructive conduct. The bill’s sponsor cited protests around immigration raids in Los Angeles as the impetus for his bill.
Status: pending
Introduced 10 Jun 2025.
Issue(s): RiotHR 2272: Blocking #FinancialAid to students who commit a "riot"-related offense
Would bar federal financial assistance and loan forgiveness for any student convicted of a crime in connection with a “riot.” The bar would apply to students convicted of “rioting” or “a) inciting a riot; b) organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying on a riot; c) committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or d) aiding or abetting any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot.” Many states define “riot” broadly enough to cover peaceful protest activity; many also have broad laws criminalizing “incitement to riot” that cover protected expression. The bill would bar financial aid and #LoanForgiveness for students convicted under such provisions. As written, the bill would also bar financial aid and loan forgiveness to students convicted of any offense related to “#organizing, #promoting, encouraging” a riot, or “aiding and abetting” incitement or participation in a riot, which could cover an even wider range of expressive conduct, from sharing a social media post to cheering on demonstrators in a protest that was deemed a “riot.”
(Full text of bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2272)
Status: pending
Introduced 21 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): #CampusProtests, Riot, Limit on #PublicBenefits#HR2273: Providing for visa revocation and deportation of #noncitizens who commit a "riot"-related offense
Would require the Secretary of State to revoke the visa of and make deportable a noncitizen #student, #scholar, #teacher, or #specialist convicted of a crime in connection with a “riot.” Under the bill, individuals in the US on an F-1, J-1, or M-1 visa would have their visas revoked and would be deportable if they were convicted of “rioting” or “a) inciting a riot; b) organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying on a riot; c) committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or d) aiding or abetting any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot.” Many states define “riot” broadly enough to cover peaceful protest activity; many also have broad laws criminalizing “incitement to riot” that cover protected expression. The bill would provide for the deportation of foreign students, scholars, and others convicted under such provisions. As written, the bill would also provide for their deportation if convicted of any offense related to “organizing, promoting, encouraging” a riot, or “aiding and abetting” incitement or participation in a riot, which could cover an even wider range of expressive conduct, from sharing a #SocialMediaPost to cheering on #demonstrators in a protest that was deemed a “riot.”
(Full text of bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2273)
Status: pending
Introduced 21 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot#S1017: New federal criminal penalties for protests near #pipelines
Would create a new federal #felony offense that could apply to protests of planned or operational pipelines. The bill would broadly criminalize under federal law “knowingly and willfully” “#vandalizing, tampering with, disrupting the operation or construction of, or preventing the operation or construction of” a gas pipeline. A range of peaceful activities could be deemed “disrupting… the construction of” a pipeline, from a rally that obstructs a road used by construction equipment, to a #lawsuit challenging a pipeline’s #permit or# zoning approval. The bill does not define “disrupt,” such that even a brief delay would seemingly be covered. Further, the underlying law provides that any "attempt" or "conspiracy" to commit the offense would be punished the same as actual commission. As such, individuals as well as organizations that engage in the planning or facilitation of a protest that is deemed to “disrupt” pipeline construction could be covered. The offense would be punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for an individual, or $500,000 for an organization.
(Full text of bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1017)
Status: pending
Introduced 13 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, #Infrastructure
#ProtestLaws #protestors #protestors_in_prison #CivilLiberties #Fascism #USA #USPol #NoKings #Project2025 #TrumpIsAFascist -
…Hours after the confrontation involving the #Nadler staffers & #DHS police, around 6:30PM, police arrested nearly 2 dozen #demonstrators they allege blocked traffic outside the building, an #NYPD spox said.
In the #demonstration, mutual #aid volunteers assisting #immigrants tried to block #ICE vans transporting detained immigrants from leaving the building, acc/to organizers. 18 protesters were issued criminal summons, & 5 people were arrested & charged, the NYPD spox said.
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…Hours after the confrontation involving the #Nadler staffers & #DHS police, around 6:30PM, police arrested nearly 2 dozen #demonstrators they allege blocked traffic outside the building, an #NYPD spox said.
In the #demonstration, mutual #aid volunteers assisting #immigrants tried to block #ICE vans transporting detained immigrants from leaving the building, acc/to organizers. 18 protesters were issued criminal summons, & 5 people were arrested & charged, the NYPD spox said.
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With further entry to the library barred, a growing crowd of #demonstrators outside the building moved to the streets just beyond the campus gates.
One #student org representing the #protesters said on social media that school security had assaulted demonstrators & acknowledged that some activists had refused to show their IDs to ofcls.
#democracy #dissent #law #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech #FreedomOfAssembly #RightToProtest #ColumbiaUniversity #Palestinians #Israel #Gaza #war
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With further entry to the library barred, a growing crowd of #demonstrators outside the building moved to the streets just beyond the campus gates.
One #student org representing the #protesters said on social media that school security had assaulted demonstrators & acknowledged that some activists had refused to show their IDs to ofcls.
#democracy #dissent #law #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech #FreedomOfAssembly #RightToProtest #ColumbiaUniversity #Palestinians #Israel #Gaza #war
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In addition to #labour demands, #demonstrators were drawing attention to escalating violence and insecurity in #rural areas, especially in southern #Colombia, where #Indigenous #communities have faced displacement, armed conflict, and threats from criminal groups.
https://freedomnews.org.uk/2025/05/07/colombia-indigenous-mobilisation-for-peace/ -
In addition to #labour demands, #demonstrators were drawing attention to escalating violence and insecurity in #rural areas, especially in southern #Colombia, where #Indigenous #communities have faced displacement, armed conflict, and threats from criminal groups.
https://freedomnews.org.uk/2025/05/07/colombia-indigenous-mobilisation-for-peace/ -
#RepublicOfGeorgia: New legislation directly threatens people's right to #protest and #FreeExpression
In a troubling shift toward #authoritarian governance, Georgia’s ruling party has enacted legislative reforms that drastically restrict freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and proposed changes to restrict #media, public participation.
February 10, 2025
"The key changes obstructing people’s right to protest include:
- Expanded organisers' liability;
- Restrictions on spontaneous protests;
- Limitations on protests in enclosed spaces: Protests in closed spaces or buildings now require written consent from the property owner, significantly restricting #student and #workplace #demonstrations. This provision appears to be a direct response to recent protests on #UniversityCampuses;
- Expanded penalties for protest-related offenses: Petty #hooliganism fines have risen from GEL 500-1,000 to GEL 500-2,000 (from maximum approximately 350-700 EUR) , with imprisonment now up to 20 days instead of 15. Verbal insults towards #PoliceOfficers now carry fines of GEL 2,000 5,000 (approx. 700-1750 EUR) or up to 60 days’ imprisonment. Repeat offenses can result in a GEL 3,500-6,000 ( 1200–2100 EUR) fine and extended jail terms. Additionally, individuals accused of "disrupting public order" face severe criminal penalties, including up to 3 years in prison;
- New restrictions on symbolic protest actions: Covering one's face, possessing a laser or light-emitting device, or wearing clothing resembling police or military uniforms during assemblies are now punishable by fines of GEL 2,000 ( 700 EUR) or imprisonment up to 7 days. Such measures are expected to disproportionately impact younger protesters and student-led movements;
- #Broadened law enforcement powers: The Ministry of Internal Affairs now holds increased authority over protest regulation, including the power to block protests that allegedly threaten public order or constitutional stability. Authorities can now use '#EmergencyMeasures' to disperse gatherings, including mass #arrests and prolonged #detentions;
- Increased state control over protest logistics: Protesters are now required to ensure that demonstrations do not obstruct transportation routes. Organisers must take action within 15 minutes of a warning to remove roadblocks or temporary structures, failing which they will face criminal liability;
- Participation in protests previously dispersed by law enforcement is now classified as an offense, subjecting #demonstrators to legal consequences."Given that the median salary in Georgia in 2023 was GEL 1,238 (approximately 400 EUR), these fines represent a disproportionate financial burden on protesters, effectively discouraging civic engagement and public demonstrations."
#RightToProtest #AntiProtestLaws
#GeorgianLaws #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #HumanRights #RepublicOfGeorgia #GeorgianDream #FaceMasks #AntiMaskLaws #ProtestSponsors #ACAB #ExpandedPolicePowers #PoliceState #Authoritarianism #Fascism -
#RepublicOfGeorgia: New legislation directly threatens people's right to #protest and #FreeExpression
In a troubling shift toward #authoritarian governance, Georgia’s ruling party has enacted legislative reforms that drastically restrict freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and proposed changes to restrict #media, public participation.
February 10, 2025
"The key changes obstructing people’s right to protest include:
- Expanded organisers' liability;
- Restrictions on spontaneous protests;
- Limitations on protests in enclosed spaces: Protests in closed spaces or buildings now require written consent from the property owner, significantly restricting #student and #workplace #demonstrations. This provision appears to be a direct response to recent protests on #UniversityCampuses;
- Expanded penalties for protest-related offenses: Petty #hooliganism fines have risen from GEL 500-1,000 to GEL 500-2,000 (from maximum approximately 350-700 EUR) , with imprisonment now up to 20 days instead of 15. Verbal insults towards #PoliceOfficers now carry fines of GEL 2,000 5,000 (approx. 700-1750 EUR) or up to 60 days’ imprisonment. Repeat offenses can result in a GEL 3,500-6,000 ( 1200–2100 EUR) fine and extended jail terms. Additionally, individuals accused of "disrupting public order" face severe criminal penalties, including up to 3 years in prison;
- New restrictions on symbolic protest actions: Covering one's face, possessing a laser or light-emitting device, or wearing clothing resembling police or military uniforms during assemblies are now punishable by fines of GEL 2,000 ( 700 EUR) or imprisonment up to 7 days. Such measures are expected to disproportionately impact younger protesters and student-led movements;
- #Broadened law enforcement powers: The Ministry of Internal Affairs now holds increased authority over protest regulation, including the power to block protests that allegedly threaten public order or constitutional stability. Authorities can now use '#EmergencyMeasures' to disperse gatherings, including mass #arrests and prolonged #detentions;
- Increased state control over protest logistics: Protesters are now required to ensure that demonstrations do not obstruct transportation routes. Organisers must take action within 15 minutes of a warning to remove roadblocks or temporary structures, failing which they will face criminal liability;
- Participation in protests previously dispersed by law enforcement is now classified as an offense, subjecting #demonstrators to legal consequences."Given that the median salary in Georgia in 2023 was GEL 1,238 (approximately 400 EUR), these fines represent a disproportionate financial burden on protesters, effectively discouraging civic engagement and public demonstrations."
#RightToProtest #AntiProtestLaws
#GeorgianLaws #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #HumanRights #RepublicOfGeorgia #GeorgianDream #FaceMasks #AntiMaskLaws #ProtestSponsors #ACAB #ExpandedPolicePowers #PoliceState #Authoritarianism #Fascism -
From 2024: #HumanRightsWatch - #Venezuela: Brutal #Crackdown on #Protesters, Voters
Killings, #MassArrests Following Elections
(Bogota) – "Venezuelan authorities are committing widespread #HumanRights violations against #protesters, #bystanders, #opposition leaders, and critics following the July 28, 2024, presidential election, Human Rights Watch said today. Concerned governments should push for independent verification of the electoral results and support international efforts to ensure accountability.
"International observers have raised serious concerns about the July 29 announcement by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) that #NicolásMaduro had been re-elected president. Following the announcement, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets, in largely peaceful protests, to demand a fair counting of the votes. Human Rights Watch has documented that Venezuelan authorities and #ProGovernment armed groups known as '#colectivos' have committed widespread abuses, including killings, arbitrary detention and prosecution, and harassment of critics. On September 2, a judge issued an arrest warrant against opposition candidate #EdmundoGonzález for '#conspiracy,' 'incitement to #disobedience' and other crimes.
" 'The repression we are seeing in Venezuela is shockingly brutal,' said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. 'Concerned governments need to take urgent steps to ensure that people are able to peacefully protest and that their vote is respected.'
"Venezuelans voted in the presidential election in large numbers, despite irregular government actions and human rights violations in the lead-up to the election, including arrests of opposition members, arbitrary disqualifications of opposition candidates, and restrictions on Venezuelans #voting abroad. Several hours after polls closed, Venezuela’s electoral council declared that Maduro had won the election with over 51 percent of the vote. The Electoral Council has not released the tally sheets from the election, nor conducted the audits and citizen verification processes required by law.
"The United Nations Electoral Technical Team and the #CarterCenter, which observed the elections, said the process lacked transparency and integrity, and questioned the declared result. They indicated that, instead, the precinct-level tally sheets that the opposition made public were reliable. The Carter Center noted that the tally sheets showed, with 81 percent of the votes counted, that #González had won the election by a significant margin.
"Venezuelans have taken to the streets across the country, particularly in low-income areas traditionally supportive of the Chavismo movement, where many incidents of #repression have taken place.
"Human Rights Watch received credible reports of 24 killings in the context of #protests from independent local groups, including Foro Penal, Justicia Encuentro y Perdón, Monitor de Víctimas, and Provea, or discovered them on social media. Human Rights Watch independently documented 11 of these cases, including by reviewing death certificates, verifying videos and photographs, and interviewing 20 people, including witnesses and other local sources. Many relatives, witnesses, and others were not willing to be interviewed because they feared #GovernmentRetaliation.
"Human Rights Watch analyzed and verified 39 videos and 2 photographs of protests found on social media platforms or sent directly to researchers by people close to the victims, and by local organizations and journalists.
"Researchers confirmed the exact locations where these videos were filmed; used information such as shadows, weather patterns, and upload dates to determine the time of day; and consulted with forensic pathologists and arms experts, who analyzed the injuries and weapons that were seen and heard.
"According to Venezuelan authorities, they arrested over 2,400 people in connection with protests. The local pro bono group #ForoPenal recorded over 1,580 '#PoliticalPrisoners' who have been arrested since July 29, including 114 children. Prosecutors have charged hundreds with sometimes broadly defined crimes carrying harsh sentences, such as '#incitement to hatred,' '#resistance to #authority,' and 'terrorism.'
"The government has also intensified its broader repressive tactics, cancelling passports of critics to prevent them from leaving the country, encouraging citizens to report on #demonstrators, and conducting abusive #raids, especially in low-income communities. On August 15, Maduro’s supporters in the National Assembly passed a law that grants the government #BroadPowers to control and shut down nongovernmental organizations [#NGOs]."
Read more:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/09/04/venezuela-brutal-crackdown-protesters-voters#ElectionFraud #CharacteristicsOfFascism #Fascism #Authoritarianism #Crackdown #CriminalizingDissent #protesters #Protesting #BogusCharges #Murder
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From 2024: #HumanRightsWatch - #Venezuela: Brutal #Crackdown on #Protesters, Voters
Killings, #MassArrests Following Elections
(Bogota) – "Venezuelan authorities are committing widespread #HumanRights violations against #protesters, #bystanders, #opposition leaders, and critics following the July 28, 2024, presidential election, Human Rights Watch said today. Concerned governments should push for independent verification of the electoral results and support international efforts to ensure accountability.
"International observers have raised serious concerns about the July 29 announcement by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) that #NicolásMaduro had been re-elected president. Following the announcement, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets, in largely peaceful protests, to demand a fair counting of the votes. Human Rights Watch has documented that Venezuelan authorities and #ProGovernment armed groups known as '#colectivos' have committed widespread abuses, including killings, arbitrary detention and prosecution, and harassment of critics. On September 2, a judge issued an arrest warrant against opposition candidate #EdmundoGonzález for '#conspiracy,' 'incitement to #disobedience' and other crimes.
" 'The repression we are seeing in Venezuela is shockingly brutal,' said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. 'Concerned governments need to take urgent steps to ensure that people are able to peacefully protest and that their vote is respected.'
"Venezuelans voted in the presidential election in large numbers, despite irregular government actions and human rights violations in the lead-up to the election, including arrests of opposition members, arbitrary disqualifications of opposition candidates, and restrictions on Venezuelans #voting abroad. Several hours after polls closed, Venezuela’s electoral council declared that Maduro had won the election with over 51 percent of the vote. The Electoral Council has not released the tally sheets from the election, nor conducted the audits and citizen verification processes required by law.
"The United Nations Electoral Technical Team and the #CarterCenter, which observed the elections, said the process lacked transparency and integrity, and questioned the declared result. They indicated that, instead, the precinct-level tally sheets that the opposition made public were reliable. The Carter Center noted that the tally sheets showed, with 81 percent of the votes counted, that #González had won the election by a significant margin.
"Venezuelans have taken to the streets across the country, particularly in low-income areas traditionally supportive of the Chavismo movement, where many incidents of #repression have taken place.
"Human Rights Watch received credible reports of 24 killings in the context of #protests from independent local groups, including Foro Penal, Justicia Encuentro y Perdón, Monitor de Víctimas, and Provea, or discovered them on social media. Human Rights Watch independently documented 11 of these cases, including by reviewing death certificates, verifying videos and photographs, and interviewing 20 people, including witnesses and other local sources. Many relatives, witnesses, and others were not willing to be interviewed because they feared #GovernmentRetaliation.
"Human Rights Watch analyzed and verified 39 videos and 2 photographs of protests found on social media platforms or sent directly to researchers by people close to the victims, and by local organizations and journalists.
"Researchers confirmed the exact locations where these videos were filmed; used information such as shadows, weather patterns, and upload dates to determine the time of day; and consulted with forensic pathologists and arms experts, who analyzed the injuries and weapons that were seen and heard.
"According to Venezuelan authorities, they arrested over 2,400 people in connection with protests. The local pro bono group #ForoPenal recorded over 1,580 '#PoliticalPrisoners' who have been arrested since July 29, including 114 children. Prosecutors have charged hundreds with sometimes broadly defined crimes carrying harsh sentences, such as '#incitement to hatred,' '#resistance to #authority,' and 'terrorism.'
"The government has also intensified its broader repressive tactics, cancelling passports of critics to prevent them from leaving the country, encouraging citizens to report on #demonstrators, and conducting abusive #raids, especially in low-income communities. On August 15, Maduro’s supporters in the National Assembly passed a law that grants the government #BroadPowers to control and shut down nongovernmental organizations [#NGOs]."
Read more:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/09/04/venezuela-brutal-crackdown-protesters-voters#ElectionFraud #CharacteristicsOfFascism #Fascism #Authoritarianism #Crackdown #CriminalizingDissent #protesters #Protesting #BogusCharges #Murder
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#Demonstrators across 50 states look to unify a disparate opposition to #Trump and his sweeping agenda
by BILL BARROW, CHARLOTTE KRAMON and NADIA LATHAN
March 4, 2025ATLANTA (AP) — "As Donald Trump prepared Tuesday to address a joint session of Congress, #protest groups gathered at parks, statehouses and other public grounds across the country to assail his presidency as #dangerous and #UnAmerican.
"The rallies and marches — set in motion by the fledgling #50501Movement, a volunteer-driven group organized in the weeks after Trump’s inauguration — mark the latest attempt at national resistance to the hardened support of Trump’s '#MakeAmericaGreatAgain' base and the success it has had in reshaping the Republican Party in the president’s populist image.
"Yet some early scenes Tuesday vividly demonstrated the difficulty Democrats, progressives and everyday citizens face in marshaling a tangible response to Trump and the swift, sweeping actions of his second administration. Protesters have so many things to push back against — from tariffs to Trump’s reset on the war in Ukraine to the aggressive and sometimes legally dubious actions of the Department of Government Efficiency and its leader, billionaire #Elon Musk, that it’s hard to know what to focus on." [THIS IS INTENTIONAL! #DivideAndConquer!]
https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-protests-53c6a993ee4892d4b5f9f90607f410e3
#Resist #ResistFascism #Project2025 #Protests #ResistDOGE #BadDOGE #ChristoFascists #CharacteristicsOfFascism #USPol -
The War on #Masks Has Taken on a New Meaning
This time, the masks have nothing to do with #COVID19.
By Henry Grabar
Feb 05, 20254:57 PM"Last month, state legislators in New York introduced a bill that would create a new crime: 'masked harassment.'
"That, the law explains, is when you wear a mask 'for the primary purpose of menacing or threatening violence against another person' or 'placing another person or group of persons in reasonable fear for their physical safety.'
"If that seems like a bit of a niche offense—threatening violence is already a crime, after all—it’s because the language has been watered down to attract political support. It’s a sign of New York Democrats’ cautious new approach over masks in public life, and a retreat from last spring, when anti-Israel protests, on top of a widespread urban crime panic, pushed leaders from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to consider mask bans.
"In its original form, the New York bill would have banned masks at public assemblies entirely. But the outcry from #DisabilityRights advocates, #CriminalJustice reformers, #HealthCareWorkers, and #CivilLiberties groups was swift, and so New York wound up with this bill on 'masked harassment' instead.
"Elsewhere, the pandemic-era leniency on masking in public is over. #NorthCarolina Republicans overrode a gubernatorial veto last summer to once again #BanPublicFaceCoverings, except to stop the spread of contagious diseases. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost dusted off an old law to threaten #StudentProtesters with #felonies. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has asked the state’s Senate to consider a bill to #unmask #protesters this year.
"For Republicans, it’s a chance to kill two birds with one stone. They can strike back against the perceived overreach of pandemic-era #HealthDirectives and make it easier to arrest #demonstrators at the same time.
"In #Ohio and North Carolina, the original statutes were written in the 1950s to stop demonstrations by the #KuKluxKlan, but had been ignored or suspended during the #pandemic and the #GeorgeFloydProtests. Many lawmakers have cited the recent demonstrations in defense of #Gaza as a reason to crack down again. Defending the proposed mask ban in New York, Anti-Defamation League [#ADL] president Jonathan Greenblatt said the demonstrators were using '#KKK tactics' to intimidate Jewish New Yorkers.
"That instinct was bolstered by the sense among many city residents and elected leaders that widespread masking was a factor behind the pandemic-era crime spike. That led to #Philadelphia banning #SkiMasks in parks, on trains, and in public buildings. A more recent, high-profile example came in December with the Midtown Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO #BrianThompson by a #MaskedAssassin, which prompted New York Mayor Eric Adams to call for cab drivers and business owners to ask customers to remove their masks. The new New York bill has won over the liberal Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who endorsed the 'tailored' approach. As the police say: #NoFaceNoCase.
"For what it’s worth, there are too many confounding variables and too little data to be sure if mask-wearing is associated with crime, said Ernesto Lopez at the Council for Criminal Justice, which collects crime reporting statistics from various cities. 'From a theoretical statement it makes sense that could occur, but it has not been demonstrated that’s the case,' he told me.
"But if all that weighed in favor of more mask bans, there was also widespread resistance. Disability advocates mobilized to defend the right to mask; North Carolina had to write a medical exemption into their bill at the insistence of a GOP House member. #PoliceReformers observed that #MaskBans have often been used for pretextual #policing and racial profiling against #BlackAmericans. (#AtlantaGeorgia tabled a mask ban for that reason.)
"What looms largest, as the second Trump administration begins, is the role of protest. As Semafor’s Dave Weigel has noted, masks have become a badge of left-wing protest culture. That’s in part an extension of politicized COVID-era concerns about health and civility, but at this point it is mostly a tactic to preserve anonymity in an era of #FacialRecognition, streaming video, and #doxing. Last year, the anonymous #ProIsrael website the #CanaryMission posted photographs of hundreds of students and faculty at campus protests and posted their names and photos online, labeling some as supporters of terrorism.
"'The concern takes on new urgency as Donald Trump pledges to revoke the visas of pro-Palestine protesters, and the Trump-Musk GOP embraces the naming and shaming of otherwise private citizens. A conservative group called the American Accountability Foundation has begun circulating lists of federal workers, many of them Black, who should be
'targets' for their alleged involvement in #DEI initiatives at work."Clearly, the masked protest does not always sit well with an older generation, many of whom cut their teeth in the protests of the pre-internet age. As Georgetown professor Michael Kazin told the New York Times last year: 'I do think if you are going to demonstrate, and it’s something you feel deeply about, you should be willing to stand up and be counted.'"
Source:
https://slate.com/business/2025/02/mask-bans-new-york-los-angeles-crime-protests-criminalize-face-coverings.html?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
#Fascism #AuthoritarianRule #BigBrother #BigBrotherIsWatchingYou #SurveillanceState #SilencingDissent
