The Republican governor of Tennessee quietly signed a bill earlier this week that made tougher penalties for Protestants, including increased jail time and loss of voting rights.
Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday signed a bill to tighten criminal laws in connection with peaceful protests, after months of demonstrations in front of the state Capitol building in Nashville.
The bill, introduced by the state senate, makes state-owned “camping” a criminal offense. Violators would be punished with Class E crimes, a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days in prison and restitution for any damage to property.
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Offenders could face up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $ 3,000 for a Class E crime, the least serious crime in the state. Illegal state-owned camping was previously a misdemeanor.
Tennesseans have been found guilty of a felony, despite the classification, losing the right to vote. Class E criminals can petition to extend charges to five years.
The state defines unauthorized camping as setting up a temporary structure, or tent, tarp as a piece of furniture between 10 pm-7am in an unspecified camping area. People found sleeping, storing personal items, cooking, lighting a fire, and “digging or digging” are in violation of the new law.
The bill also classifies agitated insurgents as Class C crime, requiring a mandatory minimum of 90 days in prison, but criminals could face up to 15 years, and fines up to $ 10,000.
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These charges would result from attacking a first responder, causing a riot or stopping a highway.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee has asked the governor to veto the bill earlier this month. It said it will monitor how the law is enforced and has urged Tennesseans to “come out and vote as their rights depend on it.”
“We are very disappointed in Governor Lee’s decision to sign this bill, which cools freedom of speech, undermines the reform of criminal justice and fails to address the most pressing problems of racial justice and police violence perpetrated by the Protestants. directed, “Tennessee Executive Director ACLU Hedy Weinberg said in a statement this week. “While the governor often talks about reforming the ordinance, this bill is in conflict with those words and wastes valuable taxpayer funds to criminalize dissent.”
For months, activists campaigned for the Capitol, demanding to meet with Lee. The mayor has reportedly refused to meet with her.
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The law will take effect on October 1 and will only apply to crimes that take place on and after that date.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
