House proposes bill that would block rioters from receiving COVID unemployment benefits
With over 13 million people collecting unemployment insurance right now, it’s more crucial than ever to not put those benefits at risk.
Earlier this week, Representative Jim Banks (R-Ind.) proposed the Support Peaceful Protest Act to the House of Representatives, a bill that would make those, “convicted of violence, looting or vandalism in connection with a protest ineligible for enhanced coronavirus unemployment benefits.”
It would also make a charged protestor financially responsible for any federal policing that their rioting and protesting required. Therefore, not only would they lose access to unemployment benefits, but they would also be held responsible to pay for the hours of policing and any potential damage caused.
Rep. Banks argues that,
“What my bill would do is add new consequences to those individuals who are breaking the law.”
Ultimately, while you are protected under the First Amendment to peacefully protest and assemble, that does not allow you to destroy or deface public and federal property, vandalize businesses, or harass individuals. And with the $600 bonus on unemployment insurance now expired and the Senate still on a recess, it would threaten extremely critical funds for you and your loved ones.
Right now, the bill has only been proposed and would have to first be voted on and passed in the House of Representatives, then presented to the Senate, and finally signed by the President before it would be enacted by law. It currently has no other support from any other lawmakers.
**What are your thoughts about the Peaceful Protest Act? **
Comments
It’s not a bad thing to punish those whom stole, destroyed and defaced their cities. We as Americans should not reward bad behavior. We have the civil right to peacefully protest.. Do it peacefully. Acting like wild violent animals is not and should be okay that the government supports them financially after their behavior. I see no issues with the proposal to become 100% fully in bloom. Consequences!
This is all a set up!!!! The ones that start the riots are CIA THE AIM IS MORE CONTROL OVER US and to take away our rights and have us poor and in need for total leverage over us. So we have to rely on the government and do what the tell us to.
They need to lose their unemployment. They are not peaceful. They are looting and destroying and killing. They should be in jail.
This is a ploy for the police to arrest innocent people by claiming they are the ones that are insighting these riots. This is what these Republicans wants, to take away of All ours Civil Liberties. This should be voted Down!! He is opening up a can of worms.
A GOP bullshytq proposal trumpism ison the rise
I'm just worried will the right people be caught and held responsible for their actions. History has seen a lot of people wrongly tried and accused of a lot of things. This can be a good law, but only if they're seriously trying to go after the people who commit the crimes and not trying to go after scapegoats! Still I think that we can be able to protest peacefully, but that's got to be on both ends. Cops can't just show up at a peaceful protest and turn it into a riot by cracking heads without provocation... and somehow that's what always happens. 😐
How i understand it the bill would effect people caught and charged for one of the crimes looting or rioting or any of the crimes that are happening with protesting burning fighting police u will lose your benefit. I'm 100% supporting because this stuff is making everything worse. We as a community and country will never get back to normal i was in los Angeles during Rodney King riots and saw what after the riots and how it screwed the people and community after years after people have to take 3 to 4 bus rides just to get food at grocery store and that all riots do screw the people in those community 20 to 30 years they may come back more then likely no
My question is this how are they going to figure out who was rioting an who wasn't? I am unemployment and I have not been to any of the riots that are going on right now and it seems to me that this bill will punish everyone who is on unemployment.
A president that needs to go ASAP
About time!! Why should tax payers support someone breaking the law. So far our taxes are paying people to destroy our towns. And then WE get to pay for the rebuild. That's stupid!