Washington state senator faces backlash after proposing to criminalize 'illegal' protests

A Washington state senator plans to propose a bill banning "illegal protests," although many of his critics say his definition of "illegal protests" sounds suspiciously like "protests" in general. Republican Sen. Doug Ericksen announced Wednesday that he wanted to create the crime of "economic terrorism" and "allow the felony prosecution of people involved in protests that block transportation and commerce, damage property, threaten jobs, and put public safety at risk," KOMO News reports.

"Let's keep in mind that civil rights protesters who sat down at lunch counters could be seen as 'disrupting business' and 'obstructing economic activity,' and their courageous actions were opposed by segregationists as trying to 'coerce' business and government," American Civil Liberties Union of Washington spokesman Doug Honig told The Associated Press.

Ericksen argued that he respected the right to protest "but when it endangers people's lives and property, it goes too far. Fear, intimidation, and vandalism are not a legitimate form of political expression." Ericksen added that his bill would also "[go] after the people who fund" and organize protests.

While some critics admit they would need to see the bill first before writing it off, the language being used already appalls others. "We're already concerned that some of its loose terms appear to be targeting civil disobedience as 'terrorism.' That's the kind of excessive approach to peaceful protest that our country and state do not need," Honig said.

"To call [protesting] 'economic terrorism' is just another way to silence it and another way to gain popular support," said Seattle resident Molly Boord.