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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsArizona Senate votes to seize assets of those who plan, participate in protests that turn violent
Claiming people are being paid to riot, Republican state senators voted Wednesday to give police new power to arrest anyone who is involved in a peaceful demonstration that may turn bad even before anything actually happened.
SB1142 expands the states racketeering laws, now aimed at organized crime, to also include rioting. And it redefines what constitutes rioting to include actions that result in damage to the property of others.
But the real heart of the legislation is what Democrats say is the guilt by association and giving the government the right to criminally prosecute and seize the assets of everyone who planned a protest and everyone who participated. And whats worse, said Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, is that the person who may have broken a window, triggering the claim there was a riot, might actually not be a member of the group but someone from the other side.
http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2017/02/22/arizona-senate-crackdown-on-protests/
Tom Rinaldo
(22,911 posts)It is chilling that any legislator would consider such legislation constitutional, let alone that any legislature would actually pass it.
Ilsa
(61,675 posts)They are planning to steal from people who haven't done anything but exercise their constitutional rights. If they can do this, they can pass a law arresting you for voting if you violated a quirky misdemeanor law (walking on the grass). Voting isn't even a protected constitutional right, last I heard.
AZ senate is stupid and evil.
Dustlawyer
(10,493 posts)Freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the right to peaceably assemble for starters.
They say they love the Constitution while violating it's most basic freedoms. Hey RW, THERE GO YOUR FREEDOMS!!! You thought it was Obama taking your freedom, but all you were mad about was what you thought of as your freedom to discriminate. By the way, that is NOT in the Constitution!
angrychair
(8,593 posts)Constitution:
"...or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
And 14th:
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law"
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)Can see Kennedy join the liberals in voting to overturn such a blatant violation of people civil rights.
kacekwl
(6,994 posts)lillypaddle
(9,580 posts)No way. Can't be constitutional.
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)These fascists tactics must be fought.
GeorgeGist
(25,294 posts)Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)IronLionZion
(45,259 posts)oh yeah Republicans are all about freedom.
American soldiers died for our right to protest and organize peacefully.
nikibatts
(2,198 posts)This needs to go through the courts and to the SCOTUS.
DeminPennswoods
(15,246 posts)It just as easily could be a "provocateur" starting trouble in a rw pro-Trump, anti-choice, etc, rally now couldn't it?