(NewsNation) — Four North Carolina Republican lawmakers want to prevent demonstrators from blocking roads and highways during protests.
The Safe and Open Streets Act, which Sen. Thom Tillis filed in the Senate and Reps. Chuck Edwards, Richard Hudson and David Rouzer filed in the House, would make it a federal crime to block public roads or highways.
If the measure becomes law, violators would be subject to fines and up to five years in prison.
This bill’s filing comes in response to recent protests in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Durham, North Carolina, that have seen major roadways blocked by protesters demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawmakers assert it’s dangerous and protestors don’t control the roads.
However, critics argue the bill violates the First Amendment.
“I certainly believe in everyone’s First Amendment rights — the right to protest, to be heard — but no one has the right to shut down streets that belong to the taxpayers,” said Edwards, who is a member of the House of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Edwards emphasized that protesters can be heard “safely on the sidewalk or from a park, wherever they apply for a permit to share their opinions.”
“When traffic is obstructed, when folks are laying in the streets and emergency vehicles are not able to pass, folks aren’t able to go to work or to go pick their kids up after soccer practice. They’ve gone way too far. As long as they stay on the sidewalk, they can scream, play music, use megaphones, whatever they want to do. But abstract, obstructing traffic is just going too far.”
Edwards said this became a federal issue due to states being “too lenient” on protestors and not taking the opportunity to “charge or enforce the law.”