This would apply to ALL protests....even those protesting out in front of Planned Parenthood....if one rabid anti-abortion person causes any crime at their protest, then potentially, all the protestors could lose everything they own.
Are you for that?
This bill is an authoritarian anti-American abomination. AZ has laws on the books for rioting, if you riot and hurt or destroy, you will get arrested....but this law uses RICO to take away everything you own, and the organizers of a protest, and, potentially anyone else that is there. The RICO statutes are amazingly authoritarian in their scope, and its potential for abuse by whichever party is in power is frightening.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Sonny Borrelli, would have organizers and protesters of an event that gets out of hand charged with conspiracy and racketeering (for which they could be held criminally and financially liable). The ridiculously broad proposal would allow organizers and bystanders to be prosecuted even if they had nothing to do with any actual crime.
Under existing law a person already can be prosecuted for criminal damage or assault or rioting. A new law is not necessary. Unless punishing rioters is not really its purpose. And it’s not.
The real purpose of a law like this would be to frighten law-abiding citizens into not attending public demonstrations, for fear they might get arrested.
The idea is based on a completely unproven claim about paid protesters causing trouble.
As Democratic Sen. Katie Hobbs said before the Senate vote, “This idea that people are being paid to come out and do that? I’m sorry, but I think that is fake news.”
Because it is.
Because there is no proof.
Silence is ... American?
But that doesn’t seem to matter. The idea is to frighten people into not exercising their free speech or their constitutionally protected right to assemble, to voice their grievances.
Imagine that.
Montini: Senate GOP passes another bill to Shut. You. Up.
