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hello. i wanted to make this post to spread awareness about #sb33 & #hb784 as i haven't seen any posts talking about them, and they're basically violating ohioans right to protest. [thread]
[a little disclaimer, i've never written a post like this before so please bare with me, i'll try to be as straightforward possible. also, even if you're not from ohio, i ask that you please share this for awareness!]
sb33 passed on 12/17/20, though i still think that it's important to mention.
what this bill basically does is allow authorities to "modify and criminal and civil law for critical infrastructure damage." alongside making it a first degree misdemeanor to "knowingly enter or
what this bill basically does is allow authorities to "modify and criminal and civil law for critical infrastructure damage." alongside making it a first degree misdemeanor to "knowingly enter or
remain on a critical infrastructure facility."
this is targeting protests that specifically take place at oil and gas infrastructures, and the organizations that support such protests. what this means is that authorities can now raise what usually is a misdemanor,
this is targeting protests that specifically take place at oil and gas infrastructures, and the organizations that support such protests. what this means is that authorities can now raise what usually is a misdemanor,
6 months in jail, and a 1,000 dollar fine in ohio, to a 3rd degree felony. A 3rd degree felony is between 9-36 months in prison and up to a 10,000 dollar fine. this happens now if someone were to "knowingly destroy or improperly tamper with a critical infrastructure facility"
and it should be noted that they've intentionally left the word "tampering" vague. there's no clear indication what it means in this bill.
not only that, organizations that knowingly or unknowingly let these people protest can be fined double or triple
not only that, organizations that knowingly or unknowingly let these people protest can be fined double or triple
the amount. i'll be leaving links to articles with more information and the bill itself down below.
https://www.dispatch.com/news/20191004/critics-say-critical-infrastructure-bill-meant-to-stifle-protest
https://www.columbusunderground.com/bill-in-ohio-house-would-impose-harsh-new-penalties-on-protesters-ocj1
http://www.acfan.org/2019/new-ohio-anti-protest-bill-sb-33-facing-passage-act-now/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cleveland.com/opinion/2019/05/senate-bill-33-labeling-some-types-of-trespass-a-felony-threatens-ohioans-rights-editorial.html%3foutputType=amp
https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-33
https://www.dispatch.com/news/20191004/critics-say-critical-infrastructure-bill-meant-to-stifle-protest
https://www.columbusunderground.com/bill-in-ohio-house-would-impose-harsh-new-penalties-on-protesters-ocj1
http://www.acfan.org/2019/new-ohio-anti-protest-bill-sb-33-facing-passage-act-now/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cleveland.com/opinion/2019/05/senate-bill-33-labeling-some-types-of-trespass-a-felony-threatens-ohioans-rights-editorial.html%3foutputType=amp
https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-33
as of right now. hb784 has not passed yet.
before i explain what this bill is about, i think that it's important to note that a "riot" is defined in ohio law as "four or more others in a course of disorderly conduct."
please keep this in mind while reading!
before i explain what this bill is about, i think that it's important to note that a "riot" is defined in ohio law as "four or more others in a course of disorderly conduct."
please keep this in mind while reading!
what hb784 does is "...increase penalties for certain assault, vandalism, and riot offenses, to allow peace officers to bring civil suits against persons participating in a riot, and to prohibit bias motivated intimidation of first responders"
now, let's break this down. one provision this bill is adding is a new penalty for blocking traffic.
once again, you would usually receive a misdemeanor for doing this. but now if you were to do this during an "unauthorized" protest, you would receive a 3rd degree felony.
once again, you would usually receive a misdemeanor for doing this. but now if you were to do this during an "unauthorized" protest, you would receive a 3rd degree felony.
there's also now a crime called "riot assualt", if someone participating in a riot were to hurt someone, you would be charged with a 5th degree felony, if that person happened to he a "peace" officer, it would be raised to a 4th or 3rd degree felony depending on the amount harm.
there would also be increased penalties for "riot", which would increase the penalty to a 4th degree penalty. and "aggravated riot", which would be increased to a 3rd degree felony.
it also introduces "riot vandalism", which is any damage to government property, that is
it also introduces "riot vandalism", which is any damage to government property, that is
now punishable a 2nd degree felony [8 years in prison, and a 15k fine max].
this all leads down to the scariest part of the bill. which states,
“a person who reasonably believes that the person is in danger of imminent bodily harm may take any steps necessary to flee or escape from persons engaged in aggravated riot or riot… and is justified in using
“a person who reasonably believes that the person is in danger of imminent bodily harm may take any steps necessary to flee or escape from persons engaged in aggravated riot or riot… and is justified in using
or threatening to use reasonable force, including deadly force, to escape the aggravated riot or riot.”
this is giving people free rein to arm themselves at protests, and use "deadly force" against someone they believe is "dangerous".
this is giving people free rein to arm themselves at protests, and use "deadly force" against someone they believe is "dangerous".
i'm sure you can understand how incredibly dangerous this whole entire bill is, and it still hasn't been passed yet! there's still time to bring attention to it. i'll be leaving links down below delving deeper into hb784. [i wasn't able to find many sources, if any of you
have any that i didn't list, please feel free to link them below]
https://www.columbusunderground.com/bill-in-ohio-house-would-impose-harsh-new-penalties-on-protesters-ocj1
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fox19.com/2020/11/10/bill-creating-new-charges-combat-rioting-looting-introduced-by-state-reps/%3foutputType=amp
https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-HB-784
https://www.columbusunderground.com/bill-in-ohio-house-would-impose-harsh-new-penalties-on-protesters-ocj1
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fox19.com/2020/11/10/bill-creating-new-charges-combat-rioting-looting-introduced-by-state-reps/%3foutputType=amp
https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-HB-784
with both of these now in mind, i ask again that you please share this thread! it seems as though news about these bills aren't getting around, i honestly didn't even hear about them until recently. if anything new comes up, i'll make sure to link it in this thread.
