A coalition of Republican senators introduced a bill to criminalize protesters who block traffic after the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles saw hundreds of people flood the roads and close freeways.

The Safe and Open Streets Act threatens fines and up to five years in federal prison for offenders who “purposely” block a public road “in any way or degree.”

North Carolina GOP Sen. Thom Tillis, the bill’s lead sponsor, said the proposal was inspired by the rioters who this month took over U.S. 101 in downtown L.A. while sparring with authorities over federal immigration enforcement. 

Officers in riot gear used less-than-lethal munitions to push protesters off the road as agitators threw rocks, bottles and other projectiles at police.

One suspected protester, 39-year-old Adam Palermo, was charged in state and federal court after being accused of throwing rocks at a squad car on the 101 and setting the vehicle on fire.

“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,” Mr. Tillis said Monday in a statement.

Mr. Tillis was joined by fellow Republican Sens. Ted Budd of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

Ms. Blackburn called the maneuver an example of “lawlessness that should not be tolerated.” 

She said the roadway demonstrations can prevent emergency vehicles from getting through and hold up people who need to get to work.

Mr. Tuberville said the riots gave way to acts of domestic terrorism.

“For nearly a week, we watched as domestic terrorists assaulted ICE and law enforcement officers, set fire to cop cars and blocked the streets of Los Angeles — all while [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom and [L.A. Mayor] Karen Bass sat on their tails and did nothing,” he said. “This is a prime example of what happens when lawlessness goes unpunished. The First Amendment gives us the right to freedom of assembly, but it doesn’t give the right to block our streets and put American lives at risk.

The Los Angeles Police Department said more than 550 people were arrested during the eight days of protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city.

Most of those arrests stemmed from curfew violations or failure to disperse, but people were also taken into custody for attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, gun possession, resisting arrest and vandalism.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.