Louisiana Bill Raises First Amendment Concerns Over Church Protest Penalties

A Louisiana House committee has advanced legislation that critics warn could criminalize constitutionally protected protest activity, reigniting debate over where religious freedom ends and free speech begins.

House Bill 68, authored by State Rep. Laurie Schlegel (R-Metairie), would impose a 30-day minimum jail sentence on anyone who "purposely interrupts" a house of worship, amending existing disturbing the peace statutes to apply harsher penalties when a church is involved. While proponents frame the bill as protecting worshippers, civil liberties advocates fear it creates a tiered system of speech rights,  one where protest inside or near a church carries steeper consequences than similar conduct elsewhere.

The ACLU of Louisiana has raised pointed concerns, arguing the bill's language is dangerously vague. Sarah Whittington, the organization's director of advocacy, acknowledged the complexity, noting that "churches can be private property" and that trespass laws already exist to address unlawful entry,  suggesting the additional layer of criminalization may be unnecessary and constitutionally suspect. The implicit concern is that the bill could ensnare protesters engaged in the kind of civil disobedience that has a deep and legally protected history in American public life.

Schlegel has been transparent about her motivations, pointing to a January incident in Minnesota where protesters disrupted a church service targeting a pastor who also worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Thirty-nine people, including journalist Don Lemon, were subsequently indicted. "We just want to make sure that that's not acceptable here in the state of Louisiana," Schlegel said, framing the bill as preemptive protection for houses of worship statewide.

Link: AP News