Arizona Senate votes to seize assets of those who plan, participate in protests that turn violent

[kpete]

Claiming people are being paid to riot, Republican state senators voted Wednesday to give police new power to arrest anyone who is involved in a peaceful demonstration that may turn bad — even before anything actually happened.

SB1142 expands the state’s racketeering laws, now aimed at organized crime, to also include rioting. And it redefines what constitutes rioting to include actions that result in damage to the property of others.

But the real heart of the legislation is what Democrats say is the guilt by association — and giving the government the right to criminally prosecute and seize the assets of everyone who planned a protest and everyone who participated. And what’s worse, said Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, is that the person who may have broken a window, triggering the claim there was a riot, might actually not be a member of the group but someone from the other side.

http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2017/02/22/arizona-senate-crackdown-on-protests/

[Tom Rinaldo]

1. That is overty fascist

It is chilling that any legislator would consider such legislation constitutional, let alone that any legislature would actually pass it.

[Ilsa]

2. This has to be unconstitutional. Shuttting down free speech and the right to protest.

They are planning to steal from people who haven't done anything but exercise their constitutional rights. If they can do this, they can pass a law arresting you for voting if you violated a quirky misdemeanor law (walking on the grass). Voting isn't even a protected constitutional right, last I heard.

AZ senate is stupid and evil.

[Dustlawyer]

3. Un-Constitutional as it violates the 1st, 4th and 14th Amendments.

Freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the right to peaceably assemble for starters.

They say they love the Constitution while violating it's most basic freedoms. Hey RW, THERE GO YOUR FREEDOMS!!! You thought it was Obama taking your freedom, but all you were mad about was what you thought of as your freedom to discriminate. By the way, that is NOT in the Constitution!

[angrychair]

4. Seems to violate something...called the...

Constitution:
"...or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

And 14th:

"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law"

[Jake Stern]

5. If passed it'll get tossed by SCOTUS

Can see Kennedy join the liberals in voting to overturn such a blatant violation of people civil rights.

[kacekwl]

6. WTF Is happening ??

[lillypaddle]

7. Wait Wut??????????////

No way. Can't be constitutional.

[BeckyDem]

8. Donate what you can and when you can to the ACLU.

These fascists tactics must be fought.

[GeorgeGist]

9. Coward protection act.

[Angry Dragon]

10. POLICE STATE coming to a state near you

[IronLionZion]

11. So they cut up the constitution to use as toilet paper

oh yeah Republicans are all about freedom.

American soldiers died for our right to protest and organize peacefully.

[nikibatts]

12. So the alt-right or anarchists show up to peaceful protest and turn them violent and everyone pays.

This needs to go through the courts and to the SCOTUS.

[DeminPennswoods]

13. Well, aren't pro-Trumpers out there, too?

It just as easily could be a "provocateur" starting trouble in a rw pro-Trump, anti-choice, etc, rally now couldn't it?