State Senator Shevrin D. Jones, a Broward County Democrat and an outspoken critic of the law, noted that Mr. DeSantis was quick to point out how necessary the bill was the day after the deadly riot on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol, but made no mention of the event during the signing of the bill on Monday, focusing only on the summer protests.
This is proof, he said, that bills aimed at punishing protesters are disproportionately aimed at people of color. “This bill is racist at its core,” he said. Jones said.
So far, three bills aimed at curbing protests have been signed – Florida and new laws in Arkansas and Kansas targeting protesters seeking to disrupt oil pipelines. Others are likely to come soon.
In Oklahoma, Republican lawmakers last week passed legislation to governments Kevin Stitt that would criminalize the illegal blocking of a public street and grant immunity to drivers who beat and injured protesters during a riot. Last June, a pickup truck carrying a horse-drawn carriage drove through a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters on a highway in Tulsa, injuring several people and leaving one paralyzed. The driver, who said he was speeding because he feared for the safety of his family, is not charged.
The author of the bill, State Senator Rob Standridge, said the Tulsa incident prompted him to seek immunity from drivers beating protesters. He said Tuesday he is not aware of drivers charged after hitting protesters in Oklahoma. “I hope this law is never used,” he said in an interview. Carly Atchison, a spokeswoman for Mr. Stitt, declined to say whether he would sign the bill, which was passed with veto-proof majorities.
Tiffany Crutcher, whose twin brother, Terence Crutcher, was shot and killed in 2016 by a Tulsa police officer who was later acquitted on a charge of manslaughter, said the Oklahoma proposal represents Republican efforts to end Trump’s hostility expand administration towards colored people.
Dr Crutcher said she was convinced that if Mr. If the legislation is signed, it will be applied in stricter terms to those protesting against racial injustice than to white protesters protesting for gun rights or against abortion.