Mississippi Set To Be 13th State To Criminalize Fossil Fuel Protests

"A bill intended to have a chilling effect threatens seven years in prison for protesters and up to $100,000 in fines for groups supporting them."

"Mississippi is on the verge of becoming the 13th state in the past three years to slap new penalties on protests against fossil fuel infrastructure.

A bill that cleared the state Legislature earlier this week makes knowingly trespassing any property where oil, gas or petrochemical pipelines or tanks are located a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Individuals who cause damage or losses that total more than $1,000 ― for example, by halting production at a refinery or stopping the flow of fuel through a pipeline ― could face felony charges punishable by up to seven years in prison and fines of up to $10,000."

Alexander C. Kaufman report for HuffPost June 16, 2020.

Source: HuffPost, 06/17/2020