A bill that would make it a felony to protest inside a church has already cleared its first hurdle in the Alabama Legislature.
Representative Greg Barnes, R-Jasper, filed House Bill 363 less than a week ago in response to a protest that occurred in a Minnesota church that led federal authorities to arrest multiple protest-leaders and journalists.
The bill appears to be on the fast track, immediately appearing in and passing a House committee.
The bill would create the crime of “disruption of a worship service,” a Class C Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Subsequent offenses would come with a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.
The law relies on existing state legal definitions of “riot,” “disorderly conduct” and “harassment.” Intentionally entering a church during a worship service to riot, participate in disorderly conduct or harass individual churchgoers would be a violation of the law.
“Disorderly conduct” includes “mak(ing) unreasonable noise” or “disturb(ing) any lawful assembly or meeting of persons.”
The law also prevents demonstrators from blocking ingress or egress to the church.
“This bill does not impede on anyone’s freedom of expression except on church property or in the building,” Barnes told the committee.
The church protest in Minnesota gained national attention, with many churchgoers expressing concern at the disruption of a worship service.
The protesters there were specifically protesting the inclusion of David Easterwood, an ICE agent, as a pastor at the church. Federal authorities including U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi have prioritized the prosecution of individuals involved in the protest, including journalists who covered the protest–most notably former CNN journalist Don Lemon who has long been disliked by President Donald Trump.
HB363 is now ready for consideration by the full House of Representatives. The bill already has enough co-sponsors (55) to pass the House if they all vote in favor of the bill when it reaches the floor.
