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<blockquote data-quote="Babagounj" data-source="post: 2598608" data-attributes="member: 12952"><a href="http://kstp.com/news/protesters-state-representative-nick-zerwas-mall-of-america-aclu-interstate-light-rail-line-shopping-mall/4376932/" target="_blank">State Representative Wants to Give Cities the Right to Sue Protesters Under Certain Conditions</a>With protests breaking out worldwide Friday, including in Minnesota, State Representative Nick Zerwas (R-Elk River) wants to pass a law that would allow cities to go after protesters should they be convicted of crimes like trespassing or unlawful assembly.&quot;If you try to shut down the Mall of America,&quot; Zerwas said, &quot;a taxpayer from Bloomington shouldn&#039;t have to pay because you want to break the law.&quot;Zerwas said the legislation is in response to the mall shutdown, protesters blocking I-94, and occupying the 4th Precinct police station in Minneapolis. He points out the bill wouldn&#039;t make anything illegal that isn&#039;t already against the law.&quot;You have a constitutionally protected right for free speech and for your message,&quot; Zerwas explained. &quot;You do not have a constitutional right to block a freeway or to put a fire ring in the middle of a city street.&quot;Zerwas also said he has introduced another bill, which will have its first reading Monday. That bill would increase criminal penalties if protesters block access to freeways, the airport, or the light rail.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Babagounj, post: 2598608, member: 12952"] [URL="http://kstp.com/news/protesters-state-representative-nick-zerwas-mall-of-america-aclu-interstate-light-rail-line-shopping-mall/4376932/"]State Representative Wants to Give Cities the Right to Sue Protesters Under Certain Conditions[/URL] With protests breaking out worldwide Friday, including in Minnesota, State Representative Nick Zerwas (R-Elk River) wants to pass a law that would allow cities to go after protesters should they be convicted of crimes like trespassing or unlawful assembly. "If you try to shut down the Mall of America," Zerwas said, "a taxpayer from Bloomington shouldn't have to pay because you want to break the law." Zerwas said the legislation is in response to the mall shutdown, protesters blocking I-94, and occupying the 4th Precinct police station in Minneapolis. He points out the bill wouldn't make anything illegal that isn't already against the law. "You have a constitutionally protected right for free speech and for your message," Zerwas explained. "You do not have a constitutional right to block a freeway or to put a fire ring in the middle of a city street." Zerwas also said he has introduced another bill, which will have its first reading Monday. That bill would increase criminal penalties if protesters block access to freeways, the airport, or the light rail. [/QUOTE]

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