Last week, the DFL tweeted:
State legislators are understandably concerned about the DFL’s embrace of such “direct action” tactics. As a safeguard, Rep. Walter Hudson (R) and, Alpha News reports, “over two dozen co-authors, all of whom are Republican,” have authored HF 2809.
“According to the bill,” Alpha News continues:
…anyone who “who protests before or about the residence or dwelling of any person, except when the residence or dwelling is used as a place of business,” would be guilty of a misdemeanor. Repeat offenders would be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
The bill “does not prohibit the peaceful protesting of the place of holding a meeting or assembly on premises commonly used to discuss subjects of general public interest.”
Speaking to Jon Justice on Twin Cities News Talk radio Tuesday, Hudson said “it’s entirely appropriate to prohibit protest at somebody’s residence; I don’t care who they are. This would apply to every person in Minnesota, every residence in Minnesota.”
Elaborating, the second-term Republican said, “There are plenty of other ways in the year 2026 to make your voice heard and to register your dissent from whatever it is you feel people are doing that you disagree with.
“The idea that you’re going to go to their house and disturb the peaceful enjoyment of their property, and terrorize neighbors and children and family, should be completely outside the bounds of what we consider acceptable behavior in polite society,” added Hudson.
In recent years, Minnesota has seen several protests take place outside the private homes of public figures.
Among them was the 2020 protest outside the home of then-Minneapolis Police Federation President Bob Kroll. At that protest, dozens of agitators harassed neighborhood residents and smashed effigies of Kroll and his wife, Liz Collin.
Left-wing protests have occurred outside GOP State Sen. Warren Limmer’s home and the home of a Washington County official involved in the Kim Potter case. Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s home has also been targeted by protesters.
Last year, Hudson said an individual was publicly encouraging people to protest outside his home.
The DFL opposes the bill, tweeting on Wednesday:
Republicans do not want to make protesting a crime, only the harrassment of individuals at their homes.
It should go without saying that this initimdation of legislators — or anyone involved in public affairs — is not healthy for our body politic. Perhaps, once, it did go without saying. Now, it no longer does. Such is the erosion of norms of behavior in our state. Minnesotans, tragically, understand better than most where this sort of lunacy can end up. We hope this bill passes.