MUST READ: Oklahoma House Passes Bill To Give Immunity To Drivers Who Hit Protesters

[djacq]

In an early morning vote along party lines, with 79 votes in favor and 18 against, state lawmakers approved legislation that would remove criminal or civil liability for any driver who “unintentionally” injures or kills someone while “fleeing from a riot,” as long as they have a “reasonable belief” that fleeing would protect themselves from harm.

[link:https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oklahoma-bill-protect-drivers-hit-protesters_n_6049801ac5b6cf72d093ed9e|

In the United States the right to petition is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which specifically prohibits Congress from abridging "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances".

“reasonable belief” that fleeing would protect themselves from harm = People of Color will be a target

[NCDem47]

1. So I guess if someone hits a Q, all will be good??

[Kid Berwyn]

2. Terrorism is OK if you're a Republican in OK.

Gerrymandering really is a problem.

[multigraincracker]

3. So, doest that apply to

anti-abortionest mobs?

[riversedge]

4. seems this guy intentionlly drove through the protesters-AND WAS NOT CHARGED!!.......

DAMN.


.........The legislation follows widespread protests in Oklahoma and across the country last summer against racist police violence. Black Lives Matter protesters have repeatedly been targeted by vehicle assaults.

At one such protest in Tulsa, a truck drove through Black Lives Matter protesters on a highway. Several people were seriously injured, according to The Oklahoman, and the county district attorney did not charge the driver.

[2naSalit]

5. Seems to be a trend in some states.

Passed a law like that in ND over a year ago.

[raccoon]

6. When did the US go fucking insane? Off to greatest with you! Nt

[LonePirate]

7. This is state sanctioned murder to hide racism.

[sop]

8. Looks like a Stand Your Ground law, but using a vehicle rather than a gun.

[jimfields33]

9. The highway is most likely the issue

I think if a group wants to protest on a major highway where cars are going 90 miles an hour, they do in some cases. The group should get a permit and the section of highway should be closed during the protest times. Or if a protest is going to occurs, the police should block the highway at the exit before the protest and have traffic do a detour around the protest. Either scenario would protect the protester rights and take the driver’s out of this scenario. A win-win for everybody.

[bullwinkle428]

10. Iowa state legislature is trying to do the same thing.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

11. Is blocking a highway a form of peaceably assembling? NT

[pinkstarburst]

12. I am of two minds on this

On the one, I don't like the idea of people thinking they have free reign to mow people down in their cars. On the other, we have seen some really terrible things happen at protests where angry crowds, cars and assault weapons were involved. These are not a good combination.

There was the one in Austin last summer where people swarmed an Uber driver and attacked him, and (because of course this is Texas and everyone is armed to the teeth), the protesters were carrying AR-15s, and one guy pointed his assault weapon at the driver, and of course, TEXAS! the driver was also armed and shot the protester dead, and sped off (where he could have killed lots of people in the crowd and only by some miracle didn't) and another complete idiot also armed to the teeth (TEXAS!) shot into the crowd after the car where HE could have killed lots of people in the crowd and the only miracle of the day was that the only person out of all those present killed was the guy with the AR-15. It could have been so much worse.

Crowd of protestors+assault weapons+middle of road+terrified motorists=not a good combination

There have been protests in the middle of interstates where protestors have gotten killed. Protests where drivers have been attacked. Having a crowd of people carrying assault weapons surrounding your car screaming and banging on the hood would make almost anyone go into lizard brain mode and floor the accelerator, thinking they were about to be killed. I get that people need to protest, but for the safety of the public AND the protesters, the middle of highways and places where the police cannot effectively keep cars from inadvertently coming across the protest and getting attacked is NOT a good place to protest.

[NoMoreRepugs]

13. So I can plow through a proud Boyz march

should I come across one?? What a f’ed up country.

[redstatebluegirl]

14. So if I "accidentally " runnover proud boys marching on

the sidewalk because their long guns terrified me I am good right?

[lpbk2713]

15. They declared open season on protesters.

Let's be careful out there.

[Duppers]

16. K & R