North Carolina House Passes GOP-Backed Anti-Rioting Bill

The North Carolina state House approved a GOP-backed bill that enhances penalties for rioting and civil disorder—coming in the wake of nationwide Black Lives Matter-linked riots and demonstrations last year. The bill, House Bill 805, would allow property owners to sue for damages incurred during a riot, including court and attorney fees. It also seeks to significantly increase penalties for participating in a riot, inciting a riot that leads to death, and engaging in riots that lead to injuries of a first responder, according to the text (see pdf below) of the bill. House Speaker Tim Moore, a Republican, and a group of…