HF322 – House threatens to SLAPP & silence activists

January 25th, 2017

How better to silence activists than by threatening to sue them for costs! This is an obvious attack of #blacklivesmatter, and is so offensive that I’m almost speechless… OK, calm down, look this up, and write!  In particular, us older white women need to stand up here, older white men too!  It’s my understanding that the St. Paul City Attorney spoke out against this, and am looking for verification.

HF 322, is in essence authorization of a SLAPP suit by local governments to recover costs for response to demonstrations, and to assess anyone convicted of any of several crimes. From the House Research Summary:

Here’s the full text:

“… public safety response costs…” will be determined how?  “… being PRESENT at an unlawful assembly…”  WHAT?  And how on earth would costs be assigned and apportioned?  EH?  One protester assessed ALL costs?  Those of that person’s arrest?  On a percentage based on number of convictions/total number of protesters?  Those pesky details.

SLAPP suits are not OK in Minnesota, where we have statutory protections of free speech and public participation.  PAY ATTENTION — THIS IS IMPORTANT:

CHAPTER 554. FREE SPEECH; PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT

Table of Sections
Section Headnote
554.01 DEFINITIONS.
554.02 PROTECTION OF CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT.
554.03 IMMUNITY.
554.04 FEES AND DAMAGES.
554.045 ACTION IN DISTRICT COURT.
554.05 RELATIONSHIPS TO OTHER LAW.
554.06 RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

In the STrib:

Bill to crack down on Minnesota protesters appears to be national trend

Minnesota GOP charts new course in response to traffic-blocking protests

What to do?

Posted by Carol A. Overland
Filed in Disasters, Legislative & Policy, Political Sense (non?)
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