Georgia expanded domestic terrorism laws after Dylann Roof’s massacre at a Black church in South Carolina. Those new laws are being used in prosecutions for the first time—against protesters fighting to halt the state’s proposed new police training center
—calls for tougher domestic terrorism laws mounted to combat white supremacist violence. But as states like Georgia strengthened their laws in response, some worried that the statutes had become too broad, and could be used to repress protests and other forms of civil disobedience.
In its 2017 expansion, Georgia no longer limited domestic terrorism to criminalized acts intended to or reasonably likely to kill or injure at least 10 people; the newer version of the law included some property crimes intended to change government policy through intimidation or coercion. Republican state sen. Bill Cowsert helped usher the law through Georgia’s legislature five years ago. He says the law protects critical infrastructure, including law enforcement facilities and property.
But more than 150 civil rights groups, including the ACLU, wrote to Congress last year about the dangers of passing such a law because it could penalize people of color. Branding acts as domestic terrorism can delegitimize protest and ratchet up criminal penalties, says Shirin Sinnar, a law professor at Stanford University.
Law enforcement officers guard the entrance of the planed site of a controversial “Cop City” project as the clear cutting of trees begins near Atlanta on March 31, 2023.After months of simmering tension around the site, a music festival and bad weather precipitated a crackdown on the protesters. Many of the activists charged with domestic terrorism attended a music festival protesting ‘Cop City’ in the forest on March 5, two days after a rainstorm.
Danmark Seneste Nyt, Danmark Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også læse nyheder, der ligner denne, som vi har indsamlet fra andre nyhedskilder.
TOWIE star Georgia Kousoulou opens up on 'unbearable pain' following miscarriage'You are not alone.'
Læs mere »
Lanarkshire domestic abuse survivor 'in fear' after 'monster' ex dodges prisonMark Donnelly pinned Nicola Thompson against walls, slapped her and grabbed her by the neck but has avoided a custodial sentence and now survivor Nicola has bravely spoken out
Læs mere »
Love-bombing is a completely inappropriate term for domestic abuseThis behaviour should be labelled what it really is – obsessiveness, stalking, emotional blackmail, grooming, anything that pathologises the abuser’s actions rather than providing any illusion that these are acts of “love”
Læs mere »
DUP man criticised over online post 'joking about domestic abuse''The post in question is historic but an example of views that exist across society and it's important these views are challenged and called out as inappropriate.'
Læs mere »
Mass shooter kills mother and grandmother in Georgia before gunning down his boss at McDonald'sA mass shooter in the US state of Georgia has killed his mother and grandmother, as well as his boss at McDonald's, before turning the gun on himself
Læs mere »