Wisconsin Governor Evers Signs ALEC-Inspired Bill to Criminalize Protest

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) signed a bill into law Wednesday designed to criminalize and chill environmental protests, despite widespread opposition from local and national environmental and social justice groups, as well as some of Wisconsin`s federally recognized tribes.

In a press release, the Governor echoed oil and gas industry talking points, which the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) revealed earlier, saying, "Today, I signed Assembly Bill 426, which aims to ensure each energy provider is treated the same under the law while still protecting the right to exercise free speech and the right to assembly."...

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Ken Notes: This one surprised me a little but if you were wondering if the lobbying money has an impact -- now you know. Finally you should also know that our bill was above and beyond what ALEC was actually recommending. There is language that seems to protect free speech in the actual bill but now the test will be in the courts and it may become expensive to test the line where speech becomes felony trespass.