Alerting People About Rights Is Protected Under Oregon Senate Bill

Oregonians can inform others of their constitutional and civil rights without being guilty of interfering with law enforcement, according to a bill passed in the Oregon Senate Tuesday..

Rights granted in the United States Constitution and the Oregon Constitution include freedoms of speech and association along with rights to due process and to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Under Senate Bill 1191, telling people about these rights does not qualify as the crimes of obstructing government and judicial processes or preventing law enforcement from performing their duties.

The Senate acted on the measure knowing the federal administration has boasted about deploying law enforcement to punish political opposition. 

“If you see someone being questioned, it’s okay to say, ‘Hey you have the right to an attorney,’” said Sen. James I. Manning, Jr (D – Eugene, Elmira & Veneta), chief sponsor of the measure. “It’s not against the law as long as no one physically intervenes. Free speech is what this is about, and we need to defend it against growing threats.”

Oregon Senate Democrats were joined by 11 Republicans in supporting Senate Bill 1191. The final vote was 28 to 1. It goes next to the Oregon House of Representatives.