AP News COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) â People attending a rally who end up accused of violating an anti-riot law could be targeted with a provision normally used against terroristic activity under GOP legislation in the Ohio House proposed in the wake of racial injustice and police brutality protests in summer 2020.
The bill also would increase penalties for rioting, create the offenses of riot assault and riot vandalism, and make it illegal to harm someone based on their status as a first responder. The legislation, one of several Republican bills targeting protest behavior, was approved Wednesday by the Republican-controlled House Criminal Justice Committee along party lines.
The legislation would also allow police officers harmed during riots to sue people or organizations for damages, as well as people or groups accused of filing false complaints against officers.
