The Manhattan Institute, a right-wing think tank, is campaigning to classify minor protest-related offenses such as vandalism, blocking roads, and trespassing as felonies under a “civil terrorism” legal framework. This effort aims to impose prison sentences of up to 18 months for these acts during protests, raising significant legal and civil rights concerns.
What happened
The Manhattan Institute has spent over a year advocating for legislation at the state level that criminalizes nonviolent civil disobedience. Its campaign has resulted in Utah passing HB 331, signed into law in March 2026, which increases penalties for “aggravated disorderly conduct” during protests, bans masks at demonstrations, and creates crimes related to advancing foreign organizations. The measure faced minimal opposition in the Utah legislature.
In Arizona, a similar “civil terrorism” bill passed the state House and is pending in the Senate amid partisan debate. Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a comparable bill last year. The Arizona legislation would elevate protest-related misdemeanors to felonies, including blocking public thoroughfares.
Tal Fortgang, a Manhattan Institute legal fellow, has been a vocal proponent of this “civil terrorism” concept. He argues that mass minor offenses during protests constitute a coercive tactic, equating them with terrorism despite lacking violence or bloodshed. Fortgang specifically targets left-wing and anti-war groups, claiming these demonstrations disrupt civilian life.
Critics, including the Arizona ACLU, view these laws as political tools aimed at suppressing dissent and disproportionately targeting communities of color and left-wing activists. Previous prosecutorial efforts using gang statutes against George Floyd protests in Utah and Arizona, which were later dismissed and condemned for misconduct, underscore concerns about misuse of legal authority.
Why it matters
This legislative push represents a significant shift in how protest-related conduct is policed and prosecuted in the United States. By reclassifying minor, often nonviolent acts of civil disobedience as felonies under the banner of “civil terrorism,” these laws risk undermining constitutionally protected rights such as freedom of speech, assembly, and protest.
The move could chill public demonstrations by deterring protest participation through heightened criminal penalties. It also reflects broader national political tensions, where right-wing groups and administrations seek to classify left-wing activism as extremist or terrorist activity, affecting legal standards and law enforcement priorities.
Background
The Manhattan Institute, co-founded in 1978 by former CIA director William Casey, has a history of influencing aggressive policing strategies, including the zero-tolerance approach in 1990s New York City and campaigns against diversity initiatives during the Trump administration.
Recent protests over police brutality and immigration enforcement in states like Utah, Arizona, and Minnesota triggered heightened enforcement measures that escalated charges against demonstrators. Some prosecutions used controversial legal frameworks, such as gang statutes, which were later invalidated due to prosecutorial abuses.
These events set the stage for legislative efforts to codify harsher penalties for protest activities, with the Manhattan Institute’s “civil terrorism” framework providing ideological and legal justification for expanding state power over demonstrations.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
Read more World News stories on Goka World News.