Lawmakers in Long Island, N.Y. passed a new bill!
Under the bill, first responders can sue any person who harasses, attacks, or injures them while in uniform. Police officers and other first responders can “seek and collect financial and punitive damages, with civil penalties of $25,000 and up to $50,000 in the case if the violations happened during a riot, according to the bill. The bill was passed with 12 votes in favor, six opposed, and one was absent.
Critics against the bill say this is a “retaliation for Black Lives Matter protests against police abuses and warn it could suppress demonstrations”, as reported in the Washington Post. However, lawmakers disagree and say it serves as “additional protection” to officers “in the face of destructive riots and lawlessness.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSHraMbLt6q/?utm_medium=copy_link
Take a look at reactions from people online:
It now goes to County Executive Laura Curran for her signature, although she has not yet indicated her position on the bill. If it becomes law, civil rights groups are expected to challenge the law in court immediately
— Rebecca C. Lewis (@_rebeccaclewis) August 3, 2021
Now, what about the bill that allows citizens to sue politicians for not taking care of the public? Where is that bill? Or forget the lawsuits, how about criminally trying political representatives in a people’s court of justice? These pols aren’t listening to their constituents.
— ubiq (@ubiqunity) August 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/allenja51580819/status/1422430749727281159?s=21
https://twitter.com/visionsinblue21/status/1422269004882878469?s=21
Please help us convince the Nassau County Executive to Veto.
— Dennis Jones (@dennisjones1174) August 3, 2021
This shows how dysfunctional this country is.
— Dari (@brown60076) August 3, 2021