A Tennessee senator is co-sponsoring a bill that would make it a federal crime to block a highway as a form of protest.
S.3492, “The Safe and Open Streets Act,” says “[i]t shall be unlawful to, in any way or degree, purposely obstruct, delay, or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by blocking a public road or highway, or to attempt or conspire so to do.”
The bill was introduced by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and co-sponsored by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
“Blocking major roads to stop traffic flows is nothing short of lawlessness that should not be tolerated. These activists are not only intentionally creating a dangerous situation for themselves, but perhaps for a citizen who is awaiting an ambulance or a hard worker who will lose their job for being late,” Blackburn told The Tennessee Star Tuesday. “The Safe and Open Streets Act is critical to stopping this reckless behavior, particularly by Hamas sympathizers, in our U.S. cities.”
Saturday, anti-Israel protestors brought traffic to a standstill on I-5 in Seattle.
“I-5 NB in downtown Seattle shut down, as protestors on the interstate demand a ceasefire in Gaza,” said reporter Kevin Ko on X. “Overpasses, including Olive Way, are also blocked off by hundreds of protestors.”
Breaking: I-5 NB in downtown Seattle shut down, as protestors on the interstate demand a ceasefire in Gaza. Overpasses, including Olive Way, are also blocked off by hundreds of protestors. @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/Z8pVg9BSJN
— Kevin Ko (@NewsWithKevin) January 6, 2024
According to timestamped X posts from Trooper Rick Johnson, Washington State Patrol District 2 public information officer for King County, the highway was closed for more than four hours.
Monday, protestors for the same cause struck in New York City.
“Activists from many groups around the city are blocking outbound traffic at the Holland Tunnel. They are also blocking Manhattan side entrances to the Brooklyn, Manhattan & Williamsburg bridges right now in a multi-pronged action in the name of ending the siege on Gaza,” said a post on X from The Indypendent, which describes itself as a “leftist newspaper.”
BREAKING: Activists from many groups around the city are blocking outbound traffic at the Holland Tunnel. They are also blocking Manhattan side entrances to the Brooklyn, Manhattan & Williamsburg bridges right now in a multi-pronged action in the name of ending the siege on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/edDSUaCrl9
— @TheIndypendent (@TheIndypendent) January 8, 2024
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter/X.
Photo “Palestine Protesters Blocking Highway” by Kevin Ko.
ANOTHER law enacted which won’t be enforced. That should fix things.