NAACP Vs Protest Penalties

The NAACP is challenging the new Tennessee law creating a felony for protest violations.

A controversial bill has organizations like the n- double-a-c-p urging the governor to stop it in its tracks.

News 12's winston reed explains why the group is so concerned about this new legislation in tennessee.

Senate bill 8005 could mean harsher penalties for demonstrators in the state of tennessee.

If passed, camping near the state capitol could lead to a felony charge.

The legislation can also result in protestors being held in custody for a mandatory of 12 hours without bond if state property is vandalized or if meetings are disrupted.

"in 12 hours you can get corona.

In 12 hours you can be assaulted by someone who is in prison for a real criminal charge."

Ann jones pierre of the naacp's chattanooga/hamilton county branch.

Pierre says strict penalties will jeapordize the future of many young people.

Like stripping their voting rights.

"therefore it's impossible to make criminal your right to protest and that's what is being done with this bill."

Standup: protests may continue here in the city of chattanooga.

News 12 spoke with local attorneys who say if legislators have it their way, demonstrators in hamilton county could face harsher penalties.

"if i predicted here in hamilton county, someof the coutny commissioners i kow, they might jump on the bandwagon."

Local activist marie mott has led protest in chattanooga for several months.

She believes the bill is unconstitutional and and a societal setback.

"to have the state legislator not want to hear the voice of the people and then criminalize the voice of the people , how is this any different from the very same sort of treatment from our grandparents experience in the civil rights era."

"i think that reublicans are worried about control and they're worried about optics and they're trying to pass legislation and they're trying to pass legislation that's just political piece of legislation to eliminate the optics."

The bill is not yet passed and weighs on the decision for governer bill lee to sign or veto the mandate.

Repoprting in hamilton county winston reed news 12 now.

Now, from the epb fiberoptics weather center, your storm team patrick core >> i think that's that that's what they're there for them that they don't take it vantage