SB 22-04: ANTIFA Act

[Dr. MB]

I'll sponsor

[Dr. MB]

Let me start off by saying the amendments the House implemented are authoritarian and unnecessary. Look at the ongoing protests in Hong Kong that everyone's been paying attention to and I'm guessing supports. Sure, they might get "violent" but are y'all gonna respond to that by bowing down to the CCP and their brutal forces? Of course not. No different here.

Anyway I'll just focus on the text that was passed by the house. All this does is protect our already-enshrined rights to freedom of speech and assembly. Sadly, some cities and counties have shredded up our rights and put in tyrannical policies that enforce state oppression. Should that be happening? Of course not? Then vote for this bill.

I have regionalist concerns about clause 1 and the severe limitations it puts on local and regional legislatures to be able to determine and establish policies to keep their communities safe.

I also have concerns about clause 8, both in terms of our authority to regulate that outside of leveraging federal funding and also the ability of schools to deliver on their missions if they are being essentially shut down by protests, especially if they are on issues that the school itself cannot control say some matter of foreign policy for instance.

The Constitution trumps regional rights. And nowhere in the Constitution does it say that you need to pay money or get government approval to exercise your natural right to freedom of assembly.

We've seen far too many examples, especially more in the past, of universities putting down student protests, especially by force. A little civil disruption is beneficial in the long run. We always look back at the past and praise protesters and even rioters for advancing causes that we support, but oh no it can't happen now because we're nice and we just happily accept our impending doom.

[Dr. MB]

anything else?

[Dr. MB]

Free speech/assembly are not absolute grants, but have limiting factors that have been universally recognized. Furthermore a private university is not obligated to preserve such, outside of leveraging financial aid because they are private property.

Maybe these limiting factors have been recognized in the past, but reducing their scope through legislation isn't out of the question, is it?

[Dr. MB]

friendly

[Dr. MB]

Colleges shouldn't be playing god and allowing certain protests but banning others.

Object to the amendment.

[Dr. MB]

Nay

[Dr. MB]

I'd rather not have an amendment like that. If a protest is over 100,000 people it's probably not gonna be liked by the authorities in the first place. Look at what happened all across the world last year.

[Dr. MB]

Here's an amendment.

Assuring Nonviolent Treatment by Interfering with Fascist Authorities Act

HOUSE BILL

Be it resolved in the Atlasian Congress Assembled,

SECTION 1. TITLE

1. This Act may be cited as the "Assuring Nonviolent Treatment by Interfering with Fascist Authorities Act”, or, alternatively, the "ANTIFA Act".

SECTION 2. PROTECTING FREE SPEECH RIGHTS

1. Regions and localities may not require permits or fees for protests occurring in public spaces, as the right to freely assemble is protected by the Constitution of Atlasia.
2. Therefore, people may freely assemble in any public place for any reason.
3. Police may only interfere with protests or arrest protesters if it can be reasonably determined that the protesters in question committed violent acts.
4. Mass arrests of non violent protesters due to violent actions of one or more in the group are prohibited.
5. Police may not use tear gas, pepper spray, or similar substances in attempts to contain protests, unless the protests become violent.
6. Police may not fire rubber bullets in attempts to contain protests, unless the protests become violent.
7. While protesters may request police protection, police may not block protesters from going to certain areas, unless protestors are blocking access to hospitals, medical centers, police stations, and court houses.
8. Colleges and universities receiving federal funding may not block protests or assemblies from taking place on their campus, or punish students for protesting or otherwise exercising their rights to free speech on campus.
9. Employees, including teachers, may not be fired or otherwise punished for participating in strikes or pickets.

SECTION 3. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
1. No special penalties may be applied for vandalism or other crimes occurring near oil or natural gas pipelines, drills, or equipment.
21. No criminal penalties may be applied for planning or engaging in protests designed to block construction of oil or natural gas pipelines, buildings, or other man-made structures, or to block demolition of said structures, or to block roadways or waterways.
2. No special penalties may be applied for crimes committed while wearing a disguise, including a mask or other facial covering.
3. Protesters may not be held liable for costs of police response to protests.

House of Representatives:
Passed the House of Representatives 5-0-3-1
X YE
People's Regional Senate

I don't think vandalism of work equipment should be tolerated in protests.

It's probably too late but this was referring specifically to extra penalties for vandalizing oil/gas equipment which some states have implemented. People who vandalize those pieces of equipment should face the same penalty for normal vandalism, nothing extra.