The grants sent millions of dollars to organizations that support #intervention programs for #nonviolent youth offenders; programs to avert #opioid-related deaths in #Newark; programs aimed at identifying community-based approaches to preventing #HateCrimes against #Arab, #Jewish & #Asian Americans; & a confidential hotline run by the National Center for #Victims of #Crime to inform crime victims about their rights.
State by State Pending and recently passed #AntiProtestLaws: #WestVirginia - Part 2
HB 3135: New penalties for #protesters who block #streets and #sidewalks
Would create new penalties for protesters who block streets, sidewalks, and other public passageways. Under the bill, someone who obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk or “other place used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances,” whether alone or with others, commits a misdemeanor, punishable by at least $500 and one month in jail. A second or subsequent offense would be a felony, punishable by at least $1,000 and at least three months and up to three years in prison. The bill defines “obstruct” to include conduct that makes passage “unreasonably inconvenient.” As such, protesters on a sidewalk who were deemed to have made it “unreasonably inconvenient” for pedestrians to pass could face jail terms. A substantially similar bill was introduced as HB 5446 in 2024.
Full bill text:
https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=3135&year=2025&sessiontype=RS
Status: pending
Introduced 4 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Traffic Interference
HB 2757: Potential "#terrorism" charges for #NonviolentProtesters
Would create several new, sweeping “terrorism” offenses that could cover nonviolent protesters. One new offense, “terrorist violent #MassAction,” is defined to include “violent protests” and “riots” that “appear intended” to coerce or intimidate groups, governments, or societies. The bill provides that participation in a “terrorist violent mass action” constitutes an “terrorist act,” and any entity that uses such actions “to advance its agenda” is a “terrorist group.” “Violent protest” is not defined in the bill or elsewhere in the law, nor does the bill require that a person individually commit any act of violence or property damage to be culpable of “terrorist violent mass action.” As such, someone who peacefully participates in a #nonviolent but #rowdy protest where a few individuals commit #PropertyDamage could conceivably face “terrorism” charges. Likewise, a #NonprofitGroup involved in organizing or supporting such a protest “to advance its agenda” could be deemed a “#TerroristOrganization” under the bill. Individuals and organizations not directly involved in such a protest could also face felony “terrorism” charges for providing protesters with “material support”—broadly defined by the bill as “any property, tangible or intangible, or service.” The bill also creates a new felony “terrorism” offense for “actions… taken for political reasons to bar other persons from exercising their freedom of movement, via foot or any other conveyance.” As written, that could cover a large, peaceful march that even temporarily stops traffic. Meanwhile, the bill provides complete immunity for people who “injure perpetrators or supporters of perpetrators” while attempting to “escape” such “terrorism.” This provision would seem to eliminate consequences for acts of violence against protesters by people whose movement has been blocked by a protest, including drivers who hit protesters with their cars. The bill also creates new felony “threatening terrorism” offenses for a person or group that "for political reasons blockades property containing critical infrastructure,” or that “trespasses for political reasons onto property containing critical infrastructure.” As such, nonviolent protesters who block a road to a pipeline or enter onto pipeline property could face “threatening terrorism” charges, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. A nearly identical bill was proposed in 2024 (HB 4994) and 2023 (HB 2916).
Full text of bill:
https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=2757&year=2025&sessiontype=RS
Status: pending
Introduced 21 Feb 2025.
Issue(s): #ProtestSupporters or Funders, #DriverImmunity, Infrastructure, Riot, Terrorism, #TrafficInterference, Trespass
#FirstAmendment #CriminalizingDissent
#Authoritarianism #Fascism #Clampdown #CriminalizingProtest
#CharacteristicsOfFascism #USPol #AntiProtestLaws #PipelineProtests
The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics
"Ten Grave Precepts of Zen Buddhism, core of Zen ethics"
Sale: $17.99 to $2.99
by Robert Aitken
Rating: 4.6/5 (103 Reviews)
#Philosophy #Nonviolent #Activism #Spiritual #Zen #Ethics #Mindfulness #Buddhism #responsibility #modernlife
https://amzn.to/4jI5Far
In response to the police raid on #WestminsterMeetingHouse, #Quakers are organising a #MeetingForWorship outside New Scotland Yard on Thursday. People of all faiths and none welcome.
https://mailchi.mp/d312ad2f1001/quaker-faith-in-action-october-16511620?e=6ffe430c3f
Just wrote to my rep Pramila Jayapal to join the congressional representatives to demand immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil. Especially in light of the arrest of Leqaa Kordia and revoking the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen and doctoral student at Columbia University, it is clear the reckless administration and the Secretary of State have violated the Constitution and engaged in criminal abduction of persons lawful activity in the US.
#Palestine #protest #nonviolent #mahmoudkhalil
Friday news dump: another student who had peacefully protested US support for IDF war crimes against Palestinian people has been arrested and detained. #Palestine #protest #nonviolent #students #ICE #mahmoudkhalil https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-arrests-3a8db6e646b786a721089a6f0bc8d9fc?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share
More details here: man on #BigBen livestreamed his climb. He is protesting the arrest of the #Filton18, after their action at #Elbit Systems, #Israel’s largest weapons company. https://palestineaction.org/not-guilty-pleas-filton-18/
Repression of #nonviolent protest is accelerating under #KeirStarmer, with the recent arrest of more than 70 protesters incl. Organisers of #Palestine Solidarity marches, #JeremyCorbyn and The Crow actor Khalid Abdalla last month https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/04/police-to-interview-the-crown-actor-khalid-abdalla-over-gaza-protest
Interesting read, this #BBC article that, based on research by Erica #Chenoweth (Harvard), states that:
- civil disobedience is not only the moral choice; it is also the most powerful way of shaping world #politics – by a long way.
- it takes (only) around 3.5% of the population actively participating to ensure serious political change.
- #nonviolent campaigns led to political change 53% of the time compared to 26% for violent #protests.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
Thanks @jwcph, for the link.
There are many methods of #nonviolent civil #resistance. Strategic planning is crucial: https://contensis.uwaterloo.ca/sites/sandboxes/admin/testCopy-1205/media/documents/198-methods-non-violent-action.pdf #nonviolence #CivilResistence #DirectAction #nonviolence #StrategicCivilResistance
Biden posthumously pardons civil rights leader Marcus Garvey
President Joe Biden on Sunday posthumously pardoned Black nationalist #Marcus #Garvey, who influenced Malcolm X and other civil rights leaders and was convicted of mail fraud in the 1920s.
Also receiving pardons were a top Virginia lawmaker and advocates for immigrant rights, criminal justice reform and gun violence prevention.
Congressional leaders had pushed for Biden to pardon Garvey, with supporters arguing that Garvey’s conviction was politically motivated and an effort to silence the increasingly popular leader who spoke of racial pride.
After Garvey was convicted, he was deported to Jamaica, where he was born. He died in 1940.
The Rev Martin Luther King Jr said of Garvey: “He was the first man, on a mass scale and level” to give millions of Black people “a sense of dignity and destiny”.
It’s not clear whether Biden, who leaves office Monday, will pardon people who have been criticized or threatened by president-elect Donald Trump.
Issuing preemptive pardons – for actual or imagined offenses byTrump’s critics that could be investigated or prosecuted by the incoming administration – would stretch the powers of the presidency in untested ways.
Biden has set the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued.
He announced on Friday that he was commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of #nonviolent #drug #offenses.
He also gave a broad pardon for his son #Hunter, who was prosecuted for gun and tax crimes.
The president has announced he was commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row,
converting their punishments to life imprisonment just as Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office.
In his first term, Trump presided over an unprecedented number of executions, 13, in a protracted timeline during the coronavirus pandemic.
A pardon relieves a person of guilt and punishment. A commutation reduces or eliminates the punishment but doesn’t exonerate the wrongdoing.
Others pardoned on Sunday included #Don #Scott, the speaker of the Virginia house of delegates, who was convicted of a drug offense in 1994 and served eight years in prison.
He was elected to the Virginia legislature in 2019, and later became the first Black speaker.
Biden also pardoned immigrant rights activist #Ravi #Ragbir, who was convicted of a nonviolent offence in 2001 and was sentenced to two years in prison and was facing deportation to Trinidad and Tobago;
#Kemba #Smith #Pradia, who was convicted of a drug offense in 1994 and sentenced to 24 years behind bars, but has since become a prison reform activist;
and #Darryl #Chambers, a gun violence prevention advocate who was convicted of a drug offense and sentenced to 17 years in prison, but who now studies and writes about gun violence prevention.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/19/biden-pardons-marcus-garvey?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#Biden commutes sentences of nearly 2,500 #nonviolent drug offenders
#POTUS Joe Biden plans Friday to commute the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent #drug offenses, making good on a promise to reduce the federal prison population….
The commutations target those serving disproportionately long sentences for drug convictions compared with the punishments they would receive today under sentencing laws, policy & practice….
#law #pardon
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/01/17/biden-pardons-justice-clemency/
*Pretty girls galore, man, crypto money-laundering, that's a great crime career for women. #nonviolent #pinkcollar #lucrative
https://www.ft.com/content/31b9053f-343e-4c47-ace9-2b0080ec8799
And how much economic damage is from climate change and pollution from #FossilFuels? #BigOil is the real criminal here!
#ClimateProtesters are taking action against Big Oil. UK courts are handing them prison terms akin to rapists and thieves
By Kara Fox, CNN
September 14, 2024
London CNN — "As #RightWing rioters attacked communities with #racist violence across parts of the UK last month, 22-year-old #ClimateActivist #CressieGethin sat in a prison cell.
"Her crime? Organizing a disruptive protest against new government-granted licenses to drill for oil — a planet-heating #FossilFuel — in the #NorthSea.
"In late July, a London court found #Gethin and four other members of the #JustStopOil activist group guilty of 'conspiring intentionally to cause a #PublicNuisance,' after recruiting protesters to climb structures along the M25 — a major ring road around London — bringing traffic to a standstill in parts over four days in November 2022.
"Prosecutors alleged that the protests, organized over a #ZoomCall, disrupted more than 700,000 drivers, caused economic damage of over £760,000 ($980,000) and racked up £1 million ($1.3m) in policing costs.
"Now Gethin and three others — Louise Lancaster, #DanielShaw and #LuciaWhittakerDeAbreu, who planned the disruption on the call — are serving four-year jail terms, while Just Stop Oil co-founder #RogerHallam was given five years. All are appealing.
"The sentences are believed to be the longest in the UK’s history for #nonviolent protest and were delivered under two new controversial laws that supercharged #policing powers to crack down on disruptive protests, even when they are peaceful.
"They place the act of planning a 'public nuisance' event, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, on a similar footing as #ViolentCrimes like robbery, for which punishments range from community service to 12 years’ jail, or rape, which is four to 19 years.
"The judge — who in court referred to the activists as '#extremists' — justified the long jail terms because all five activists had previously been convicted of one or more offenses in relation to direct action protest. Each were on bail for another set of proceedings when the Zoom call took place. He also noted people missed important doctor’s visits and funerals because of the protest.
"But activists like Gethin say their demonstrations are proportionate to the problem at hand — a rapidly warming world that threatens to transform life as we know it, through deadly #ExtremeWeather events and by pushing #ecosystems to their brinks. They are now battling the bolstered powers of the #police and courts to get their point across.
“'A very harsh sentence like this doesn’t make sense morally or legally — but it does make sense politically,' Gethin told CNN in a handwritten letter from HMP Bronzefield, a women’s prison just south of London’s Heathrow Airport.
"The laws have drawn criticism from the UN’s special rapporteur on #EnvironmentalDefenders, #MichaelForst, who said not only do they criminalize peaceful protest, but they are being enforced in 'punitive and repressive' ways."
Read more:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/14/climate/uk-climate-protests-policing-laws-prison-intl/index.html
#BigOilAndGas #ClimateActivists #ClimateProtest #SLAPPs #CorporateColonialism #WaterDefenders
#ClimateDefenders
#EnvironmentalActivists
#SilencingDissent #SLAPPs #ClimateActivists #CorporateColonialism
#EarthDefenders #CriminalizingDissent #FreeSpeech #RightToProtest #BiodiversityNecessityDefense
#EarthDefenders
#SLAPPs #Fascism #CivilDisobedience
#Activism #ClimateStrike
#HumanRights #Article20 #2023PublicOrderAct #ClimateNecessityDefense #Corporatocracy #CorporateFascism #ClimateCrisis #ClimateCatastrophe
Nonviolence is Good, Actually - insightful look on non-violent resistance and what it actually entails.
#LooksCoolDidntPlay (#LCDP), No. 88:
"Caravan SandWitch" (Non-Violent Exploration Game)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1582650/Caravan_SandWitch/?curator_clanid=45124370
by @sandwitchdev
Might appeal to fans of: #Sable
If you like what you see: boost & follow my Steam curator? 
#LooksCoolDidntPlay (#LCDP), No. 84:
"Symphonia" (Non-Violent Precision Platformer)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1865960/Symphonia/?curator_clanid=45124370
If you like what you see: boost & follow my Steam curator?
Canada's first 'prisoner of conscience' is an Indigenous land defender
https://grist.org/indigenous/canadas-first-prisoner-of-conscience-is-an-indigenous-land-defender/
The distinction is given to people who are incarcerated for their politics, religion, or ethnicity as well as other personal and protected statuses.
#LooksCoolDidntPlay (#LCDP), No. 69:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/931690/Himno/?curator_clanid=45124370
If you like what you see: boost & follow my Steam curator?
Cello-playing climate activist arrested at New York Citibank protest as crackdown escalates
Second activist also arrested during ‘summer of heat’ 
A 63-year-old climate activist and professional #cellist faces up to 
John Mark #Rozendaal, an adjunct music instructor at Princeton university
and Alec #Connon, director of the climate nonprofit group
"Stop the Money Pipeline",
were arrested for criminal contempt in the public park at the bank’s global headquarters
as the crackdown against #nonviolent #climate #protesters escalates.
Rozendaal was handcuffed and led away to the police vehicle singing “we are not afraid,
we are not afraid,
we will sing for liberation
because we know why we were made”.
The crowd of protesters chanted “let him play” and
“shame on you Citibank”.
Thirteen other climate activists,
who had linked arms in a circle around Rozendaal to protect him
as he played Bach’s suites for cello,
were detained for alleged "obstruction of governmental administration",
a misdemeanor criminal charge.
“People are dying … today is my birthday,”
said Mike Bucci, 77, teary eyed as the police in riot gear broke up the protest.
At least 3,700 people have participated in the nonviolent civil disobedience,
repeatedly blockading the entrance to its global headquarters.
More than 475 people including faith leaders, scientists and elders
have been arrested while calling on Citi to 
Citi is the second largest financier of fossil fuels
and the largest financier of fossil fuel expansion since the 2015 Paris climate agreement,
according to the latest Banking on Climate Chaos report.
The latest arrests come as climate advocates accuse Citibank and the NYPD of
coordinated and escalating efforts to suppress nonviolent protests
in retaliation for drawing attention to the banking giant’s key role in funding fossil projects globally.
Crackdowns on #ClimateActivists are happening in a lot of places -- including the #US! NYPD in riot gear! For a 63 year old cellist!!!
via @verdantsquare
#Cello-playing #ClimateActivist arrested at #NewYork #Citibank #protest as crackdown escalates
Second activist also arrested during ‘summer of heat’ protest against second largest financier of #FossilFuels
Nina Lakhani in New York
Thu 8 Aug 2024 19.13 EDT
"A 63-year-old climate activist and professional cellist faces up to seven years in #prison after being arrested on Thursday while performing a Bach solo outside the headquarters of one of the world’s largest fossil fuel financier Citibank in downtown New York.
"#JohnMarkRozendaal, a former Princeton professor, and #AlecConnon, director of the climate nonprofit group #StopTheMoneyPipeline, were arrested for criminal contempt in the public park at the bank’s global headquarters as the crackdown against #nonviolent climate protesters escalates.
"Rozendaal was handcuffed and led away to the police vehicle singing 'we are not afraid, we are not afraid, we will sing for liberation because we know why we were made'. The crowd of protesters chanted 'let him play' and “ shame on you Citibank”.
"Thirteen other climate activists, who had linked arms in a circle around Rozendaal to protect him as he played Bach’s suites for cello, were detained for alleged obstruction of governmental administration, a misdemeanor criminal charge. 'People are dying … today is my birthday,' said Mike Bucci, 77, teary eyed as the police in #RiotGear broke up the protest.
"Since 10 June, climate activists have been peacefully protesting against Citibank’s record financial support for new fossil fuel projects as part of the Summer of Heat on Wall Street campaign. At least 3,700 people have participated in the nonviolent civil disobedience, repeatedly blockading the entrance to its global headquarters. More than 475 people including faith leaders, scientists and elders have been arrested while calling on Citi to stop bankrolling new #coal, #oil and #gas.
"Citi is the second largest financier of fossil fuels and the largest financier of fossil fuel expansion since the 2015 Paris climate agreement, according to the latest Banking on #ClimateChaos report.
"The latest arrests come as climate advocates accuse Citibank and the #NYPD of coordinated and escalating efforts to suppress nonviolent protests in retaliation for drawing attention to the banking giant’s key role in funding fossil projects globally."
Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/08/citibank-climate-protest-new-york
#SummerOfHeatIOnWallStreet #SummerOfHeatProtests #NYC #ACAB #NonViolentProtests #BigOilAndGas #SLAPPs #CorporateColonialism
#EarthDefenders #CriminalizingDissent #BigOilAndGas #WaterIsLife #ClimateDefenders #Fascism #ExtinctionRebellion #ExtinctionRebellionNYC
