Racial justice advocates and others have decried a Missouri bill to crack down on protests that block roads.
Critics rallied against the measure Monday at the Capitol before a House committee considered the bill. The legislation would make repeatedly blocking traffic a felony. Republican Sen. Bill Eigel says he thought of the idea after protesters angered by the death of George Floyd blocked traffic on Interstate 70 in the St. Louis area last summer.
He says blocking highways puts protesters and drivers in danger. But protest leaders say the bill is an effort to stop racial justice demonstrations.
