Right to PROTEST Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-7196
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
Introduced: 2020-06-15
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses

Chemical and biological weapons

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Protest and dissent
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-06-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Right to PROTEST Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill modifies the criminal civil rights statute that prohibits the deprivation of rights under color of law. </p> <p>Currently, the second prong of the prohibition bars the application of different punishments, pains, or penalties based on an individual's alien status, color, or race. This bill specifies that the use of a riot control agent (e.g., tear gas) without a prior clear and audible warning is a punishment, pain, or penalty.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7196 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 15, 2020 Ms. Adams (for herself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi , Ms. Velázquez , Ms. Fudge , Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York , and Mr. Vela ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide that certain uses of riot control agents constitute civil rights violations, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Right to PROTEST Act of 2020 . 2. Use of riot control agent as civil rights violations Section 242 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: For the purposes of this section, the use of a riot control agent without a prior clear and audible warning is a punishment, pain, or penalty. The term riot control agent has the meaning given the term chemical weapon in section 229F, except that such term includes a toxic chemical and its precursors where intended for a purpose not prohibited under chapter 11B. .