State by State Pending and Recently Passed #AntiProtestLaws: #Arkansas

HB 1508: New penalties for #protesters who block #traffic, "#riot", or damage #monuments

As enacted, the law increases the penalty for obstructing a "public passage", from a Class C to a Class A misdemeanor. As such, an individual in a protest that makes a sidewalk "impassable to pedestrian... traffic" could face up to one year in jail. The law also creates a new mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days in jail for "rioting", and requires restitution for any injury or damage as a result of the offense. Rioting is defined in Arkansas to include engaging with two or more persons in "tumultuous" conduct that creates a "substantial risk" of "public alarm." The law requires that a person convicted of inciting a riot likewise pay restitution for any injury or damage as a result of the offense. The law provides that the state Attorney General may initiate an investigation into cases of riot, inciting riot, and obstructing a highway or other public passage. Finally, the law amends the definition of "act of terrorism" under Arkansas law, to include any act that causes "substantial damage" to a public "monument." It is not clear whether graffiti or other painting applied to a monument as part of a protest could comprise a terrorist act under the new law.
Full text of bill: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=HB1508&ddBienniumSession=2021%2F2021R&Search=

Status: enacted

Introduced 22 Feb 2021; Approved by House 19 April 2021; Approved by Senate 22 April 2021; Signed by Governor Hutchinson 29 April 2021

Issue(s): Riot, Terrorism, #TrafficInterference

HB 1321: New penalties for protests near gas and oil pipelines

Introduces harsh new penalties for protestors around gas and oil pipelines and other "critical infrastructure." The law broadly defines "critical infrastructure" to include a range of posted or fenced-off areas associated with natural gas and crude oil production, storage, and distribution, including above and below ground pipelines as well as #pipeline construction sites and equipment. Under the law, purposely entering or remaining on any "#CriticalInfrastructure" is a Class D felony, punishable by up to 6 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Separately, the law provides that trespassing on property outside of a city or town, regardless of whether it is posted, is a Class D felony if the property is "critical infrastructure." In nearly all other cases, trespass is a misdemeanor or minor violation. The law also creates a felony offense for anyone who purposely and unlawfully "causes damage" to critical infrastructure. Any amount of "damage," which the law does not define is a Class B felony under the law, punishable by 20 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Under the law, protesters who hold a peaceful sit-in at a pipeline construction site and paint protest slogans on construction material, for instance, could face lengthy prison sentences.

Full text of bill: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1321&ddBienniumSession=2021%2F2021R&Search=

Status: enacted

Introduced 27 Jan 2021; Approved by House 9 March 2021; Approved by Senate 1 April 2021; Signed by Governor Hutchinson 14 April 2021

Issue(s): Infrastructure, Trespass

HB 1578: Expanded Civil Liability for Those Who Incite a Riot and Criminal Penalties for Obstructing First Responders

Creates a civil cause of action for a person who is injured or has property damaged as a "direct or indirect" result of a "riot" against a person who commits "riot" or a person or entity who incites a riot. Arkansas law defines both "riot" and "incitement" broadly, creating potential liability for protesters or organizations who are interpreted to have urged others to have engaged in tumultuous or violent conduct.

Full text of bill: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=HB1578&ddBienniumSession=2017%2F2017R

Status: enacted

Introduced 17 Feb 2017; Passed by House 2 March 2017; Passed by Senate 27 March 2017; Signed by Governor 6 April 2017.

Issue(s): Civil Liability, Protest Supporters or Funders, Riot

#FirstAmendment #CriminalizingDissent
#Authoritarianism #Fascism #Clampdown #CriminalizingProtest
#CharacteristicsOfFascism #USPol #CriminalizingDissent #AntiProtestLaws #CivilWarMonuments #Racism

Big March storm fans wildfires and flips trucks as forecasters fear weekend tornado outbreak

By RUSS BYNUM and SEAN MURPHY
Updated 9:02 PM EDT, March 14, 2025

"Tornadoes likely amid storm outbreak

"The Storm Prediction Center said fast-moving storms could spawn twisters and hail as large as baseballs Friday, but the greatest threat would come from straight-line winds near or exceeding hurricane force, with gusts of 100 mph (160 kph) possible.

"A #TornadoWatch was issued until 11 p.m. for central and eastern #Missouri, including St. Louis, as well as parts of #Illinois and #Arkansas.

"The National Weather Service said it observed an evening tornado in the south-central Missouri city of #Grovespring.

"Other areas at risk included parts of #Iowa, #Kentucky, #Tennessee and #Mississippi.

"About 47 million people faced an enhanced to moderate severe storm threat from Madison, #Wisconsin, to Birmingham, #Alabama.

"Forecasters grew increasingly worried that intense thunderstorms farther south will likely bring an even greater tornado threat Saturday.

"The Storm Prediction Center said parts of #Mississippi including Jackson and Hattiesburg and areas of #Alabama including Birmingham and Tuscaloosa will be at a high risk. Severe storms and tornadoes are also possible across eastern #Louisiana, western #Georgia, central #Tennessee and the western #Florida Panhandle.

"'We have a lot of confidence that we most likely will have a tornado outbreak tomorrow,' Storm Prediction Center meteorologist Evan Bentley said in an online briefing."

https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-tornadoes-fire-blizzard-be7fe7207d483252d9ff31df58209d2b?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
#ExtremeWeather #Polycrisis #USWx #Tornadoes TornadoWarnings #TornadoOutbreak #BadDOGE #NWS
WE NEED #NationalWeatherService
#NoCutsToNWS #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #Disasters

One of the best shots of the Milky Way that I've captured to date. This is a 20-image stack of minute-long exposures taken with the aid of a tracking mount to keep the camera gently centered on our galaxy. The dark skies are courtesy of a sparsely populated corner of the Ozark Mountains in north central Arkansas. I can't wait for Milky Way season this year and opportunities to get more photos like this one.

#Astronomy #NightSky #Astrophotography #LongExposure #Arkansas #Ozarks #Space #Photographer #LandscapePhotographer #Stars #MilkyWay

The Arkansas Advocate, a nonprofit news organization based in Little Rock, is hiring a reporter. Good salary, good benefits.

https://statesnewsroom.com/staff-openings/reporter-arkansas-advocate/

#Arkansas #Job #Journalism

#DonaldTrump is nominating former #Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who has led paid tour group visits to #Israel for years, as ambassador to Israel.

#Palestine #Gaza #MiddleEast #Genocide #Palestinians #Lebanon #PalestinianLivesMatter #Politics
https://apnews.com/article/trump-transition-white-house-staff-huckabee-f51121db5b18814bbab014e872c2a736

Protest with Friends of Palestine

- Northwest Arkansas - Fayetteville

- Sat Nov 9 1pm

#Palestine #Fayetteville #Arkansas #NWArkansas #Gaza #Genocide