Strong Opposition to HB25-1142 – A Dangerous Attack on Civil Liberties

I am writing to urge you to oppose HB25-1142, a deeply troubling bill that seeks to escalate criminal penalties for individuals who refuse to leave a premises when ordered by a peace officer. This bill is an attack on free speech, public assembly, and civil disobedience, further expanding unchecked police power at the expense of fundamental rights. If passed, HB25-1142 will: 1. Limit the right to assemble on public property, giving law enforcement broad discretion to clear public spaces. 2. Restrict free speech demonstrations, punishing protesters with excessive fines and jail time for merely standing their ground. 3. Criminalize civil disobedience, making peaceful resistance a felony offense. 4. Increase arbitrary police authority, enabling officers to forcibly remove individuals from public spaces without sufficient cause. This bill is a blatant overreach that prioritizes expanding police power over protecting constitutional rights. Civil disobedience has played a critical role in shaping democracy and driving progress in Colorado and across the country. Criminalizing peaceful protest and public assembly undercuts our values and sets a dangerous precedent for future legislation. I urge you to stand against this attack on civil liberties and vote NO on HB25-1142. Please publicly oppose this bill and ensure that Coloradans retain their rights to protest, assemble, and engage in peaceful dissent without fear of unjust felony charges. I look forward to your response and to seeing you defend the rights of your constituents.