Criminalize Protestors Blocking Freeways

It’s outrageous enough to have pro-Hamas protestors decrying the actions of Israelis when they either don’t know what is going on in Israel or they claim that the reports on atrocities are all lies. But now it seems that the latest demonstrations they are pursuing, where roads and highways are blocked, are not only inconvenient to everyone else, but lives could be in jeopardy. These protests are being funded by George Soros money, in his ongoing attempt to destroy this country. It’s about time to issue serious penalties for these behaviors.

Most recently, protests that have been reported to have taken place in San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. These protests are not conducted by just a few demonstrators:

The protesters in Chicago were a group called the US Palestinian Community Network, and they formed a caravan of about 100 cars that drove first to some Chicago politicians’ homes before moving on to I-190 in Chicago and bringing trarffic to a halt. Both sides of the freeway were temporarily shut down, reported Yahoo News.

San Francisco’s new district attorney is determined to ensure that laws are enforced:

In November, similar protesters shut down San Francisco’s heavily traveled Bay Bridge for four hours.

Caught in the nightmare traffic jam were three transplant organs in transit to and from University of California San Francisco medical facilities.

UCSF transplant surgeon said the protest delayed vital surgeries. Such delays could have caused complications for patients, Dr. Garrett Roll said.

The new district attorney announced that 80 people would be charged with unlawful assembly and 29 vehicles were towed.

In New York, protestors brought traffic to a standstill on the Van Wyck Expressway; 26 people were arrested for disorderly conduct and impeding vehicular traffic. In Los Angeles, protestors dragged debris, traffic cones and trash bins onto a major road leading to the airport.

Unfortunately, I think these penalties are inadequate to deter the protestors, especially considering the ramifications of their actions. In many cases, Soros may be footing the bill for any fines these protestors must pay; that includes fines required for the release of towed vehicles.

There are potential penalties that may help to stop these protestors from their illegal demonstrations.

One writer recommended that those people injured consider tort action:

On Wednesday anti-Israel protesters blocked access to JFK and LAX airports in New York and Los Angeles, respectively. The laws of New York and California, like most states, recognize the tort. While there is no precedent applying this tort to road-blocking protesters, it fits the offense. The purpose of these demonstrations is to block the road to keep people from getting to the airport—deliberately and against their will.

In Mississippi, lawmakers considered criminalizing these actions:

Republican lawmakers in Mississippi are seeking to increase penalties for people who block public roadways during protests. Several Democrats, however, are expressing concerns about legislation that could be seen as criminalizing free speech. Republican Sen. Chad McMahan of Guntown proposed the ‘Freedom of Roadway Act’ to ‘criminalize the malicious obstruction of a public street, highway or road during an unpermitted protest.’ Senate Bill 2283 would require that protesters who block roadways with no permit be fined up to $1,500, serve up to a year in jail or both. The minimum punishment would be a $500 fine and a 25-day jail sentence.

Due to the possibility of a claim that free speech is being penalized, the legislation was amended to duplicate existing law that bans a “person” from blocking roadways. Unfortunately, the law died in committee.

In April 2021 in the midst of the George Floyd riots, Gov. Ron DeSantis took action:

At the bill signing Monday, DeSantis said, ‘If you riot, if you loot, if you harm others, particularly if you harm a law enforcement officer during one of these violent assemblies, you're going to jail.’

The law increases penalties for protesters who block roadways or deface public monuments. It creates a new crime, ‘mob intimidation.’ And it requires that anyone arrested at a protest be denied bail until their first court appearance, likely making for overnight jail stays.

In protest, the ACLU spoke out:

Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, said, ‘To be clear, the goal of this law is to silence dissent and create fear among Floridians who want to take to the streets to march for justice.’

No protestors have anything to fear, anywhere, as long as they follow the law.

This law should be one of many that forbid protestors from intimidating ordinary citizens and holding them hostage. People could die in their cars or in ambulances, unable to reach a hospital. It’s about time that lawmakers got creative and enacted laws that protect citizens, not criminals.

My last suggestion is not likely to be accepted, but I think anyone who is arrested should be required to view a video, even a short one, on the atrocities that Hamas has conducted. It should be a condition for release from jail.

Maybe that will change minds and hearts.