Tennessee governor Bill Lee
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee a law that increases penalties for protesters. The new law is a response to two months of protests outside the Capitol. The increased penalties include losing the right to vote for breaking certain laws while protesting.
The new law states that those who illegally camp on state property would now face a Class E felony, punishable by up to six years in prison, rather than a misdemeanor. Felony convictions in Tennessee result in the revocation of an individual’s right to vote.
The bill also imposes a mandatory minimum 45-day hold if convicted of aggravated rioting; enhances the fine for obstructing emergency vehicles from accessing highways; requires a court to order restitution for damaging state property; and creates a Class C felony offense for aggravated assault against a first responder — which carries a $15,000 fine and mandatory minimum 90-day prison sentence.
Of course, the usuals suspects are up in arms already. The ACLU and NAACP both wanted the governor to veto the bill. It’s been clear for a while that both groups prefer the rioters to ordinary Americans.
“We are very disappointed in Governor Lee’s decision to sign this bill, which chills free speech, undermines criminal justice reform and fails to address the very issues of racial justice and police violence raised by the protesters who are being targeted,” ACLU of Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg said in a statement. “While the governor often speaks about sentencing reform, this bill contradicts those words and wastes valuable taxpayer funds to severely criminalize dissent.”
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While I doubt the new penalties will deter the hardcore rioters, it may make those on the fringes think twice. And riots are a numbers game, fewer participants mean fewer riots.