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Georgia lawmakers advance bills to curb protests, raise penalties
Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill raising fines to $5,000 for roadway obstruction and enabling civil lawsuits against protesters, with felony charges removed.
- On Feb. 19, the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Senate Bill 443, sponsored by Sen. Carden Summers, R-Cordele, raising roadway obstruction to a high-and-aggravated misdemeanor with up to $5,000 fine.
- Supporters including Rep. Ginny Ehrhart argued for increased penalties after recent incidents in Minneapolis, where police say protests led to roadway obstructions. Civil liberties advocates questioned the necessity of the measures.
- Legal experts noted House Bill 1076 would make using a vehicle to obstruct law enforcement a felony with one to five years in prison and a $100,000 fine; Georgia police and sheriffs associations support it, while prosecutors are neutral.
- SB 443 would make convicted roadway obstruction civilly liable, and it now heads to the Senate Rules Committee with only four legislative days before March 6.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee narrowed the bill by deleting sidewalk-obstruction language and removing the felony component, while observers noted practical hurdles for potential plaintiffs suing for property damages.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Georgia lawmakers push for harsher penalties against protesters
Bills that aim to restrain public protests advanced in Georgia’s House and Senate in the wake of shooting deaths in Minneapolis that shocked the nation. One would expose people charged with blocking roads to stiffer financial penalties. Another would make it a felony to use a vehicle, whether moving or stationary, to block local, state or […] The post Georgia lawmakers push for harsher penalties against protesters appeared first on The Georgia S…
Anti-protestor bill gets toned down as it advances through Senate
The Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 19 unanimously advanced a pared down version of Senate Bill 443, which would increase the criminal charges and penalties for obstructing a roadway. Because such charges are commonly made against political protestors, SB 443 has alarmed civil liberties advocates, who say it infringes on protected First Amendment activities. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Carden Summers (R-Cordele) and 16 other Republic…
Rockdale Citizen & Newton Citizen
Protesters in Georgia could face harsher sanctions under new state legislation
ATLANTA — Bills to restrain public protests have advanced in Georgia’s House and Senate in the wake of shooting deaths in Minneapolis that shocked the nation. One would expose people charged with blocking roads to stiffer financial penalties. Another would…
Georgia Today: Harsher penalties for protesters; Info on new measles case; Fulton focus on elections
On the Feb. 24th edition: Protesters in Georgia could face harsher penalties under new legislation; More details on the latest case of measles here in the state; And Fulton County leaders say they are focused on maintaining election integrity
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