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Conservative Lawmakers Nationwide Want to Crack Down on Protests

“There’s a growing sentiment on our side to say to [protesters], if you’re breaking the law, there’s got to be consequences that come,” Sen. Josh Hawley told NOTUS.

Marsha Blackburn, Thom Tillis
Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Thom Tillis introduced a bill that would make it a federal crime to purposely block traffic on public roads and highways. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Republicans in the House and Senate say something must be done to stop disruptive protests — and if they can’t do it on the national level, they’re glad to see their colleagues in state legislatures taking up the job.

House and Senate Republicans have introduced eight bills targeting protesters this year, according to the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law. It’s a big jump from last year when only one piece of anti-protest legislation was introduced at the federal level.

But many Republicans acknowledge that these national bills are unlikely to become law and are looking to the states. Bills aimed at new and harsher penalties for protest-related actions have been introduced in at least 16 states, including North Carolina, Arizona, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois and more.