Republican Senators Propose Legislation Making Blockading Public Roads a Criminal Offense

Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have introduced a bill that would make it a federal crime to purposely obstruct, delay, or affect commerce by blocking a public road or highway.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, protesting the Israel-Hamas war, recently have blocked traffic in U.S. cities.

“The emerging tactic of radical protestors blocking roads and stopping commerce is not only obnoxious to innocent commuters, but it’s also dangerous and will eventually get people killed. It needs to be a crime throughout the country,” Tillis said in a press release.

“I’m proud to introduce the Safe and Open Streets Act so radical activists who resort to these reckless and dangerous tactics are held accountable under the full weight of the law for endangering public safety.”

Blackburn said “[b]locking 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,” she said.

“The Safe and Open Streets Act is critical to stopping this reckless behavior, particularly by Hamas sympathizers, in our U.S. cities.”

Late last month, during one of the busiest travel days of the year, protestors blocked airport access roads in New York City and Los Angeles.

In November, protestors completely blocked the Durham Freeway in Durham, North Carolina, during rush hour, stranding drivers and compromising the free flow of commerce.