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. Here’s what you need to know about the federal protest legislation:

The Safe and Open Streets Act

Republican bill targets traffic-blocking protesters:

The Los Angeles inspiration

Recent anti-ICE riots prompted legislative response:

The violent confrontations

Protests turned destructive during enforcement clashes:

Tillis’s rationale

Lead sponsor explains motivation for federal legislation:

The Republican co-sponsors

Five GOP senators joined Tillis on legislation:

Blackburn’s concerns

Tennessee senator highlights public safety issues:

Tuberville’s domestic terrorism claims

Alabama senator labels riots as terrorist acts:

The First Amendment argument

Tuberville addresses constitutional concerns:

The arrest statistics

LAPD reports massive enforcement during eight-day period:

The criminal charges

Protesters face range of serious allegations:

Read more:

• Republicans want to make protest traffic blockades a federal crime

This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com

The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.