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North Carolina -- April 13, 2023: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a
new North Carolina law that imposes harsher penalties for protesting and rioting.
The law, which was passed last month, enhances criminal penalties for protesters who cause property damage, block roads, or engage in other disruptive behavior. The ACLU argues that the law violates the First Amendment and other constitutional rights.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of several civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the North Carolina Poor People's Campaign. In a statement, the ACLU said that the law "criminalizes peaceful protest and chills free speech." The group is seeking an injunction to prevent the law from being enforced.
The new law, which was passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature, did not receive the support of Democratic Governor Roy Cooper. Cooper declined to sign the bill into law, his veto was overridden by the state's Republican lawmakers.
Dr. Chris Cooper, a professor of political science at Western Carolina University, said that the law is likely to face legal challenges. "There are real questions about whether this law violates the First Amendment," he said. "Courts have been pretty clear that the government can't punish people for exercising their right to free speech and assembly."
The North Carolina law is part of a broader trend of states passing legislation aimed at cracking down on protests and dissent. In recent years, states including Florida, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have passed laws that increase penalties for protesters and make it easier for police to disperse demonstrations.
The ACLU's lawsuit is just the latest in a series of legal challenges to these laws. In many cases, courts have struck down or weakened the laws, citing their potential to infringe on free speech and assembly rights.
