Sens. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) announced legislation Monday that would make blocking public roads a federal crime, Breitbart News exclusively reported.
Tillis and Blackburn proposed the Safe and Open Streets Act after many protesters sympathetic to the Palestinians intentionally blocked roads and highways across the country.
“Closing major roads to stop the flow of traffic is illegal and should not be tolerated,” Mr Blackburn said in a written statement.
“These activists deliberately create dangerous situations, not only for themselves, but also for the citizens who are probably waiting for an ambulance and the hard-working workers who will lose their jobs if they are late. “Safe and Open Streets laws are critical to stopping this reckless behavior in American cities, especially by Hamas supporters,” she added.
They cited two incidents in which protesters blocked the Durham Expressway in Durham, North Carolina, during rush hour, leaving motorists stranded. Protesters in December blocked airport access roads in New York City and Los Angeles, California.
The Safe and Open Roads Act would impose fines or five years in prison for those who block public roads.
“Radical protesters' new tactics of blocking roads and disrupting commerce are not only unpleasant for innocent commuters, they are also dangerous and ultimately result in people being killed. . This should be a crime across the country.” Tillis explained. “I'm proud to introduce you.” Safe and Open Streets Act Therefore, radical activists who resort to such reckless and dangerous tactics will be held to the full extent of the law for endangering public safety. ”
Get right in: Pro-Palestinian protesters have blocked roads leading to JFK Airport, forcing travelers to walk around them to board planes.
according to @ScooterCasterPort Authority Police are currently making arrests to clear the road.
The incident will happen later… pic.twitter.com/wbQxV7QNEj
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 27, 2023
Sean Moran is a policy reporter at Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @SeanMoran3.
