Source: dallasobserver.com 8/25/25
Beth Van Duyne’s bill is seen as an infringement upon First Amendment rights. Some states are already making similar steps.
Beth Van Duyne wants to use federal racketeering laws to seize the assets of people and groups that organize or fund protests that turn violent. But a bill the Republican representative for parts of Dallas, Irving and Richardson introduced in Congress to make that possible could infringe on the right of free speech. It is also unlikely to become law and, even if enacted, won’t deter local activists.
That’s the upshot of reactions to Van Duyne’s July proposal in the U.S. House of Representatives for the “The Stop the Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots (STOP FUNDERs) Act.” The act would let the Justice Department use the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to charge people and groups with conspiracy, potentially seize their financial assets and also add more jail time and other penalties
In a statement announcing the bill, Van Duyne cited violence on campuses and in cities and said, “it is obvious there are well-funded, well-outfitted, and highly coordinated efforts to plan and execute violent and potentially deadly missions of chaos and mayhem. This is organized crime, and we need to attack it as such.”
Van Duyne isn’t alone. Several other Republicans in the Texas House delegation, including Troy Nehls of Richmond, joined as co-sponsors of the legislation. Ted Cruz, one of Texas’s two Republican U.S. senators, sponsored identical legislation in the other chamber. His proposal was endorsed by fellow Texan Sen. John Cornyn.
But not everybody thinks it’s a good idea. “If enacted, this proposal could chill peaceful protest, speech, association, and other constitutionally protected activity,” Elly Page, an attorney specializing in First Amendment issues with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) in Washington, wrote in an email.
Page said RICO not only carries steep criminal …
But I’m sure Ms. Duyne was fine with Washington DC’s peaceful tourist visit of January 6th, right?? Yup, no “well-funded, well-outfitted, and highly coordinated efforts to plan and execute violent and potentially deadly missions of chaos and mayhem” happened that day, thank goodness!
(All sarcasm fully intended. 😒)
The names these people come up with for these bills…Please!
While the intent is admirable (not stop protests overall but those that turn violent), this is the outcome of a few bad actors who need to be stopped. Civil disobedience and protest is one thing, violent disobedience in protest is another obviously.
And to think, they were talking about the cost of groceries & eggs this time last year 🙄 At least we can honestly say that this bill won’t affect people on the registry, because the small number of rallies we have never turn violent. We’re some of the most peaceful people on the planet 🤗