Ohio Republicans unveil new legislation to combat rioting, looting, and violence

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Republican lawmakers in Ohio shared plans to issue harsher penalties on those convicted of crimes connected with rioting.

State Reps. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) held a press conference Tuesday to unveil legislation that creates new criminal offenses to combat rioting, looting, and violence in Ohio.

“Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are important cornerstones of our democracy,” said Abrams during a virtual press conference. “This legislation embraces the right of all Americans to peacefully assemble and make their voice heard in the public arena while supporting first responders, law enforcement, small businesses and law-abiding Ohioans.”

The legislation is in response to violence occurred during protests in the state's capital this past summer. The Ohio Statehouse, the Ohio Supreme Court, other government buildings, and surrounding businesses were vandalized, creating large cleanup costs.

H.B. 784 creates a new Riot Assault charge if a person engaged in an aggravated riot recklessly causes physical harm that is punishable by a fifth-degree felony, Abrams shared. The charge is a fourth-degree felony if the assault is against a peace officer and a third-degree felony if the peace officer sustains serious physical harm, she said.

The bill would also make the damaging of government buildings, monuments, burial sites and more a higher-level felony.

“When businesses are boarded up and shut down as a result of the actions of a few agitators, law-abiding Ohioans lose, small businesses lose, and jobs are lost,” said Carruthers. “This is a common-sense bill that supports the right to peacefully assemble while holding accountable those who break the law.”