Statement on NC House Bill 237 – “Unmasking Mobs and Criminals” Bill

HB237 will increase penalties for protestors

NC House Bill 237 passed its third reading in NC this week, raising significant concerns as the bill will increase penalties for protestors. In 2021, Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a similar bill (House Bill 805) increasing penalties on protesters. However, the 2023 version passed after some Democratic state legislators supported it. The ACLU has sued to overturn the law, condemning it as an unconstitutional “attempt to vilify and criminalize” the social justice movement.

The bill proposed by the Senate Judiciary Committee would:

1. Remove mask exemptions for health/safety, enhancing penalties for masked protesters.
2. Create a chilling effect on exercising the First Amendment right to free speech and protest.
3. Enforce new penalties for participating in demonstrations intended to block traffic or willfully impede traffic and block emergency vehicles.
4. Allow protest organizers to be held liable for injuries from obstructing emergency vehicles.

The Black and Brown Policy Network and Advance North Carolina firmly believe any legislation creating new crime or increasing penalties will disproportionately negatively impact our Black and Brown communities.