Indianapolis – June 22, 2025. The First Amendment protects each citizen’s guaranteed right to peaceful expression and lawful assembly. The U.S. Constitution does not, however, give license to engage in lawless acts or violate the rights of others. Blocking public roads is a reckless act that causes traffic accidents and injuries, perpetuates violence, and prevents first responders from helping citizens in distress. It also disrupts the daily grind of commerce, ultimately harming American businesses and the law-abiding citizenry.
To protect Americans from this growing form of anarchy, Sen. Thom Tillis (NC) introduced the Safe and Open Streets Act (S. 2115), a bill making it a federal crime to intentionally block -or conspire to block- a public road. The National Police Association (NPA) fully endorses this bill, which is currently under consideration by the Judiciary Committee. The text for the bill, once available, will be here.
This bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate to counter the radicalized demonstrations surfacing in American cities. Most recently, anti-ICE protestors took it upon themselves to block full access to roads, highways, and expressways. In Los Angeles, these demonstrations escalated into violent acts, including attacks on law enforcement officers and the burning of police squad cars.
California law classifies the intentional, malicious obstruction of public thoroughfares as a misdemeanor, and even then, this law is rarely enforced. In the case of recent anti-ICE protests, it took an official act by President Donald Trump to end the chaos.
The Safe and Open Streets Act would amend title 18 of the United States Code to create a federal criminal penalty for knowingly interfering with, or conspiring to interfere with, the flow of traffic on a public street. Obstructing any public thoroughfare would result in a penalty of fines, a maximum term of five years imprisonment, or both.
“We are fortunate to live in a country that values personal expression and the right to assemble peacefully. Disrupting commerce and risking lives by intentionally blocking roads is not constitutionally protected, and should be punished under the full force of the law,” said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director of the National Police Association. “When state penal laws are inadequate and elected officials are unable to keep their constituents safe, the federal government has a mandate to intervene, provided it acts within the framework of the U.S. Constitution,” Fitzsimmons added.
The NPA extends its gratitude to Sen. Tillis for introducing the Safe and Open Streets Act, a federal bill that would hold to account those who subvert their First Amendment rights by blocking public streets. At a time when acts of lawlessness are on the rise, we urge Congress to prioritize this bill.
About the National Police Association: The National Police Association (NPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement efforts through advocacy, education, and law. For more information, visit NationalPolice.org.
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