Surge in laws to crack down on the right to protest reported since Trump victory

Anti-protest bills that seek to expand criminal punishments for constitutionally protected peaceful protests — especially targeting those speaking out on the US-backed war in Gaza and the climate crisis — have surged since Trump's inauguration.

- Nina Lakhani

Forty-one new anti-protest bills across 22 states have been introduced since the start of the year — compared to a full-year total of 52 in 2024 and 26 in 2023, according to the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) tracker.

This year's tally includes 32 bills across 16 states since Trump returned to the White House, with five federal bills targeting college students, anti-war protesters and climate activists with harsh prison sentences and hefty fines — a crackdown that experts warn threatens to erode first amendment rights to freedom of speech, assembly and petition.

In one example, the Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy act would create a new federal felony offense that could apply to protests that "disrupt" planned or operational gas pipelines — which would be punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 (£195,000) for individuals or $500,000 for organizations.