Keisha Lance Bottoms Critiques Anti-Riot Laws
Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democrat candidate for governor in Georgia and former mayor of Atlanta, referred to anti-riot legislation as “silly” and “asinine” back in 2022. She made these comments after experiencing a notable increase in crime during her tenure as mayor, especially amid the national social justice protests.
During a discussion with The Atlantic post her mayoral term, Bottoms expressed her thoughts on these laws. When asked about the implications of proposing tougher penalties for public protests that turn unruly, she responded that such measures were “really silly.”
She further elaborated, stating that focusing on these laws detracts from the essential conversations regarding the reasons behind public protests. “Let’s talk about the open carry laws in Georgia, where individuals can march with firearms without facing any penalties. To me, that poses a greater threat than peaceful demonstrations by students,” she stated.
Continuing her argument, Bottoms highlighted the significance of understanding why people took to the streets in 2020, emphasizing that it was an unprecedented moment in American history that required urgent discussion and genuine reform.
She urged voters to realize the importance of participating in elections, not just for presidential races, but for local positions as well. “If we neglect to turn out for local elections, we’ll have individuals governing us whose views may not resonate with our own needs as a society,” Bottoms warned.
At that time, Georgia lawmakers were attempting to pass a bill that would increase penalties for rioters who blocked roads and engaged in disruptive behavior. Although this particular bill did not succeed, a similar law went into effect in 2026.
In contrast, states like Florida have already implemented laws aimed at discouraging unlawful actions during riots. Bottoms is currently in a tight race against Republican candidate Rick Jackson, a billionaire in the health sector, who leads her by a slim margin according to recent polling data.
