¹ÏÉñapp

Supporters of the increased punishments say the legislation is a necessary deterrent. But the ACLU says the law goes overboard in criminalizing people who exercise their rights to free speech and assembly.

Increased punishments for rioting in North Carolina will become law later this year as Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Friday he wouldn’t use his veto stamp on legislation that’s similar to a bill he successfully blocked in 2021.

The Senate completed the legislature's votes on the bill on Thursday. The measure is a response to 2020 demonstrations about racial injustice that while largely peaceful at times turned violent. Critics say the measure will intimidate peaceful demonstrators from speaking out.

A bill increasing punishments for violent protests following the 2020 demonstrations over George Floyd's murder passed the North Carolina House on Wednesday despite harsh criticism from social justice advocates.

The indictment against Charles Donohoe and other members of extremist groups, such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, have been a focus of the Justice Department’s sprawling investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.

A group of North Carolina voters told state officials on Monday they want U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn disqualified as a congressional candidate, citing his involvement in last January’s rally in Washington questioning the presidential election outcome before a Capitol riot later that day.

The soon-to-be successor to a North Carolina House member who died this month said on Friday he was outside the U.S. Capitol in January when the insurrection there occurred.

Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn (NC-11) is changing his tune about the people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

House Speaker Tim Moore said his plan will better protect businesses and law enforcement from violence and property damage similar to what he saw take place in Raleigh last year after the death of George Floyd.

Punishments for rioting in North Carolina would be increased and new criminal counts created for mayhem resulting in death in legislation approved by a House committee. The measure was pushed personally on Thursday by House Speaker Tim Moore.