DoomsdaysCW<p>State by State Pending and recently passed <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AntiProtestLaws" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AntiProtestLaws</span></a>: <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NewJersey" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NewJersey</span></a> - part 2</p><p>S 399 / A 4714: EXPANDED "RIOT" DEFINITION, NEW PENALTIES FOR "INCITEMENT TO RIOT", AND NEW LEGAL DEFENSE FOR PEOPLE WHO HURT PROTESTERS</p><p>Would expand the legal definition of "<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/riot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>riot</span></a>," a third degree offense under the bill, to include any group of three or more individuals whose shared intent to engage in disorderly and violent conduct results in "imminent danger" of property damage or personal injury, or actual damage or injury. Notably, the new definition does not require that the individuals' conduct be disorderly or violent, or that they commit any actual damage or injury. Under the bill, a "riot" consisting of 25 or more people, or one that "endangers the safe movement of a vehicle," is automatically an "aggravated riot," a new crime of the second degree under the bill. As such, large groups of protesters or ones that block traffic, even temporarily, could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Under the bill, "inciting" someone to participate in a riot is a crime of the third degree, punishable by 5 years in prison. "Aggravated incitement," which results if there is property damage over $5,000 is a crime of the second degree, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill also creates a new criminal offense of "mob intimidation," defined as a group of three or more people who act with a "common intent" to compel "or attempt to compel" another person to "do or refrain from doing any act," or "assume, abandon, or maintain a particular viewpoint" against their will. The offense is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The bill could also encourage violence against protesters by creating a new affirmative defense in civil lawsuits for personal injury, death, or property damage, such that a defendant could avoid liability by establishing that the injury, death, or damage they committed "arose from" conduct by someone "acting in furtherance of a riot." Finally, the bill creates a new civil right of action against a municipal government that fails to provide "respond appropriately to protect persons and property during a riot or unlawful assembly," making them civilly liable for damages, including personal injury or property damage. These provisions, if enacted, could encourage municipal governments to adopt overly aggressive law enforcement responses to protests in order to avoid lawsuits. The same bill was proposed as S3992 in the 2020-2021 session, and as S1206 in the 2022-2023 session.</p><p>Full text of bill:<br><a href="https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S399" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/</span><span class="invisible">2024/S399</span></a></p><p>Status: pending</p><p>Introduced 9 Jan 2024.</p><p>Issue(s): Driver Immunity, Riot, Traffic Interference, State Liability, Stand Your Ground</p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FirstAmendment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FirstAmendment</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CriminalizingDissent" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CriminalizingDissent</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Authoritarianism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Authoritarianism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Fascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Fascism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Clampdown" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Clampdown</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CriminalizingProtest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CriminalizingProtest</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CharacteristicsOfFascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CharacteristicsOfFascism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AntiProtestLaws" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AntiProtestLaws</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DrivingDownProtestors" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DrivingDownProtestors</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DriverImmunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DriverImmunity</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HeatherHeyer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HeatherHeyer</span></a></p>