SAINT PAUL, MN – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed its omnibus public safety bill. The bill contained several controversial provisions, including increased penalties to protesters for blocking transit, freeways and airports and establishing a private prison facility in Appleton, prohibiting consideration of any other option to resolve capacity issues.
State Rep. Raymond Dehn (DFL- Minneapolis), who opposed the legislation issued the following statement:
“This restrictive bill prohibits the Department of Corrections from pursuing other options and locks them into doing business with CoreCivic, which is a re-brand of Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), a business with a horrible track record of neglect and human rights abuses. Private prisons increase recidivism, endanger staff and offenders, and lack necessary treatment and programming. House Republicans are using this bill as a way to profit off of the prison population, instead of helping inmates reform their lives and rejoin society.
Additionally, I have serious concerns about the anti-protest language in this bill. Our First Amendment rights are guaranteed under the Constitution and the government should not penalize Americans for exercising this right. The Republican anti-protest provision of this bill is aimed at cutting free speech and locking up protesters. Instead, we as lawmakers should be examining and addressing the issues Minnesotans are protesting about.”
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