logo
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Did Tony Evers veto a bill that would have created criminal penalties for riot-related actions?

By Hope Karnopp
View this fact brief on Wisconsin Watch
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
YES

In March, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed Senate Bill 296, which created a definition for "riot" and provided criminal penalties for participation in one. He stated that current laws already prohibit these activities and that the law could lead to First Amendment violations.

The bill defined a riot as "a public disturbance involving an unlawful assembly" with violence or the threat of violence committed by one or more participants.

Under the Republican-authored bill, a person participating in a riot would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and required to serve a minimum sentence of 30 days. If a person's activities involve injury or "substantial" property damage, they would be charged with a Class I felony and required to serve a minimum sentence of 45 days.

In an article published last October, The Lawfare Institute and Brookings identified 11 states that passed laws increasing the severity of punishments for rioting and other protest-related acts.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Wisconsin State Legislature 2021 Senate Bill 296
Office of the Governor | State of Wisconsin Gov. Evers Veto Message
Wisconsin State Legislature Class A Misdemeanor
Wisconsin State Legislature Class I felony
Lawfare State Anti-Protest Laws and Their Constitutional Implications
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs from Wisconsin Watch
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.