Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim Banks announced he has reintroduced his Support Peaceful Protest Act and Qualified Immunity Act in the 117^th Congress. 

The Support Peaceful Protest Act would require arrested rioters who were caught committing crimes like acts of violence, looting or vandalism to pay for the cost of federal policing of the riot and be ineligible for federal unemployment assistance.

The Qualified Immunity Act protects our heroic law enforcement agents from frivolous lawsuits meant to disrupt their duties.

“Political violence is wrong, and we must bring those who perpetuate it to justice. Similarly, we must stand behind our nation’s law enforcement as they put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. I wish my Democrat colleagues would have agreed with me sooner and not just when it suits their political narrative,” said Banks.

During the six long months leading up to the 2020 election, most Democrats ignored political violence that engulfed several American cities. According to Axios, thirteen days of riots during the months of May and June caused as much damage to the U.S. as a Category 1 hurricane.

More than ignore, some Democrats even went so far as to encourage the riots—while they were happening. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said in June, “Protesters should not let up” and tweeted out a link to get arrested rioters out of jail to do more damage. Squad member Rep. Ayanna Pressley said in August, “There needs to be unrest in the streets” while she and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also helped raise money to bail Antifa protesters out of jail. Furthermore, Democrats showed their sympathies were fully behind the rioters when they chose to use “Defund the Police” as their slogan. 

In stark contrast, Republicans quickly condemned the riot at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, January 6. Rep. Banks condemned the riot as “un-American” and called those breaking the law “thugs” who deserve to be prosecuted “harshly.”

By reintroducing these two bills, Rep. Banks is demonstrating Republicans’ consistency in calling for harsh penalties on those who perpetuate lawlessness and showing support for our nation’s law enforcement.

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