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Goodwin Threatens Public Protest with Vague “No-Go Zone” Bill

Rep. Tim Goodwin (R-30/Rapid City)
Rep. Tim Goodwin (R-30/Rapid City)

Rep. Tim Goodwin has shown himself to be a poor reader of law; now the Rapid City Republican shows he’s just as bad at writing law.

Rep. Goodwin’s House Bill 1145 is a no, no, no.

For some reason, Rep. Goodwin, a conservative Republican who should be keenly interested in protected Constitutional rights from an overreaching central government, thinks we need a state law that authorizes the Attorney General to ban protest from public or private spaces.

Section 1 of HB 1145 would define something Goodwin calls “no-go zones”:

For purposes of this Act, a no-go zone is a contiguous geographical area consisting of public space or privately owned public space where community organizing efforts systematically intimidate or exclude the general public or public workers from entering or being present within the area.

Hmm… “public space” or “privately owned public space”… in other words, almost anywhere outside of private houses and office buildings? Public parks, courthouses, and the Capitol, certainly.

But what sort of “community organizing efforts” does Goodwin think “systematically intimidate” the general public or public workers? “Public workers” would certainly include Goodwin himself as a legislator. As evidenced by some of the hyperventilations I heard from Republican Senators on HB 1069 yesterday, Republican legislators seem to take political criticism as a personal attack. If legislators decide to deem stern criticism, or angry protestors shouting outside the Capitol, or an airplane circling Pierre with a banner, have we created a “no-go zone”?

And what’s that about “being present”? If some friends and I stand in a park, we inherently prevent others from “being present” in that patch of the park. If we hold picket signs or hand out flyers or make statements to passersby that explain our disgust with certain public officials, our speech may make the objects of our displeasure and their supporters not want to “be present” in the park. Does our public demonstration thus automatically create a “no-go-zone”?

Now, given that fuzzy definition, look what Rep. Goodwin wants to do with no-go zones:

If the attorney general receives a complaint of a no-go zone, the attorney general is authorized to investigate the existence of a no-go zone. If the attorney general determines that a no-go zone exists within a municipality or a county, then the attorney general shall deliver to the United States Department of Justice a report that outlines the basis for such a determination. The attorney general, in coordination with the United States Department of Justice and local law enforcement, shall take all steps necessary to eliminate the no-go zone to enforce compliance with state and federal law.

Let’s translate HB 1145: If I step out of my house and say things that make Rep. Goodwin feel bad, Rep. Goodwin can complain to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General  can shut me up by silencing me or removing me from that space.

Actually, the A.G. can “take all steps necessary to eliminate the no-go zone.” That’s stunningly unlimited authority. Eliminate the no-go zone—mass arrests? Quarantine by riot squad? Closure of parks, sidewalks, parking lots, universities, shopping malls, protest camps? Seizure of private property usually open to the public? Bulldozing of offending facilities? Airstrikes by the 114th Fighter Wing?

Stepping back from the hyperbole (but not much—the vagueness of Goodwin’s language demands clarification), we can safely say that HB 1145 appears to be redundant and unnecessary. I’m pretty sure that if I’m crossing the line from First Amendment speech to disorderly conduct, riot, or other illegal activity, current state law and local ordinances give local police and state troopers all the authority they need to remove me and restore the public’s right to go about its business. We don’t need vague “no-go zones” granting the Attorney General unlimited authority to shut down speech that one person finds bothersome.

The closest I can figure is that Goodwin’s bill is some kind of Breitbart bait. The white-supremacist fake press has a variety of stories about alleged Muslim “no-go zones”  (mostly debunked).

Whether Goodwin is overreacting to vigorous exercise of the First Amendment or to the Islamophobia of his Republican base, his HB 1145 reeks of unconstitutional authoritarianism. I used to think we could count on conservatives not to fall for such Big-Brother legislation. Alas, no more.

p.s.: Then again, maybe HB 1145 could have a bright side. I know lots of liberals young and old who feel Republicans have organized communities in South Dakota to systematically intimidate all sorts of members of the general public—Democrats, intellectuals, Muslims, Indians, homosexuals, transgender people, vegetarians, atheists—from entering or being present within South Dakota. Pass HB 1145, and liberals could file a complaint with the Attorney General to declare the entire state of South Dakota a “no-go zone.”

Hmmm… pass HB 1145, and I may need to run for Attorney General.

See, Tim? Don’t tempt tyrants with bad legislation. Please withdraw HB 1145.

Update 18:39 CST: Goodwin’s HB 1145 copies a no-go-zone bill proposed in 2015 in Tennessee. One Tennessee legislator who backed that bill had a history of baseless anti-Muslim statements. The bill appears not to have passed.

“No-go zones” are one of several policies recommended by the anti-Muslim Center for Security Policy in its 2010 report “Shariah: The Threat to America.” Al Novstrup should be all over HB 1145.

Update 19:40 CST: The Council on American-Islamic Relations criticized the Tennessee no-go-zone bill in 2015:

In March, CAIR issued another Tennessee action alert calling on state representatives to oppose a state bill (HB 1141 and SB 1040) which would have vilify the state’s Muslim community by directing the Tennessee attorney general to eliminate imaginary “no-go zones.”

“No-go zones” refers to a discredited and universally mocked claim that Muslims in Europe have set up zones that people of other faiths and police are not allowed to enter. The bills failed to pass [“CAIR Action Alert: Ask Tennessee Lawmakers, Gov. Haslam to Oppose Anti-Islam Bill,” 2015.10.12].

Rep. Goodwin is the lead House sponsor on Senator Stace Nelson’s Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, which “urge[s] and request[s] law enforcement and governmental agencies in South Dakota to avoid and suspend all contacts and outreach activities with the Council on American Islamic Relations.”

28 Comments

  1. Donald Pay 2017-02-02 17:09

    Rep. Tim Godwin (Nazi-30/Rapid City): I’m going to print off a copy of your bill, wipe my filthy a*s on it and put a picture of it on my facebook page (the bill, not my a*s). Unfortunately, I just took a dump, so it will have to wait until later.

  2. Bob Newland 2017-02-02 17:35

    Did anyone have a moment’s doubt that Goodwin is an ignorant p.o.s? He’s an elected representative from District 30. It’s a requirement, you fool.

  3. Jana 2017-02-02 17:42

    Let’s not forget the people helping him who signed on to this bill. Representatives Goodwin, Campbell, Dennert, DiSanto, Greenfield (Lana), Howard, Jamison, Jensen (Kevin), Johnson, Livermont, Marty, and Rounds and Senators Russell and Nelson.

    The committee debate could be worth more than one tragic laugh.

    One has to wonder if this is about Standing Rock or the Women’s March…who made them so afraid?

  4. leslie 2017-02-02 17:45

    Fantastic work, Cory. Thank you. “Star of the Western Idiots” that’s us.

    Don-you are pissed, it appears. Look out Republicans. There are educated brains on our side of the great divide.

    The heat is rising in west river; packed party meetings, 1000 women (& men) marchs, NOW, listening sessions over flowing, CC censorship of legislative cracker barrels, shouting down bad law from the gallery. Standing Rock jelled the fossil fuel resistance. harness THIS energy. Wow. Trump’s dys-election has ignited the good guys.

  5. grudznick 2017-02-02 18:05

    Mr. Goodwin is probably a well intended sort of fellow and is aiming to prevent those types of illegal, dangerous and destructive protests like there were up there in the more barren, rectangular Dakota. However, like my friend Bob I am dubious of his smarts and also feel like he might be a bit of an overgodder, and that is a very dangerous combination. Where is Mr. Verchio when we need him?

  6. Darin Larson 2017-02-02 18:16

    This bill just proves that Goodwin is a hypocrite. As a so-called conservative, his mantra is smaller government. But when it comes to restricting free speech and making government more overbearing towards its citizens, he is all for it.

  7. Rorschach 2017-02-02 18:21

    This bill won’t go far. Should be interesting to hear his pitch and who he’s targeting specifically.

  8. Tim 2017-02-02 19:26

    Does this mean we can file a complaint against the mobs that collect around the Rapid City Planned Parenthood on warm sunny days and make that a no go zone? Or is it just liberal rights to free speech he wants to shut down? Forget it, I know the answer.

  9. grudznick 2017-02-02 20:44

    Mr. Tim, and I am guessing that you are not Mr. Tim Goodwin but some different fellow named Tim, I would hope that any no going zone laws would be turned against the overgodders.

  10. Donald Pay 2017-02-02 21:35

    Thanks for the updates, which indicate this is a bill developed at a Nazi bill mill.

  11. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2017-02-02 21:56

    Donald, do you know if CSP wrote this bill and gave it to Tennessee? Have you heard of this language popping up anywhere else?

  12. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2017-02-02 22:01

    Bob Newland, he does seem to be a natural replacement for Verchio.

  13. Jana 2017-02-02 23:14

    File this under no-go zone. My tax dollars go to pay for GOP primaries which are fixed by the few in power. This no-go zone deprives me of the opportunity to exercise my vote, but they still spend my hard earned money to play out their little old boys club game.

  14. CLCJM 2017-02-02 23:32

    Sounds like Rep. Tim Godwin wants to create “no go” zones to keep all Muslims out of SD! Of course, he will use his proposed legislation, HB1145, to silence those of us who object to his creating said “no go” zones! Where do these people come from? If they would spend just 10 per cent as much time on solving real problems instead of inordinate amounts of time writing bills in pursuit of a problem, then maybe SD could achieve the economic growth and equal justice we really need for everyone!

  15. barry freed 2017-02-03 08:28

    Have there been protests at Thune’s office in Rapid?

    Does private property rented by Government become public during the lease?

  16. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2017-02-03 11:19

    Barry, I would assume that such leased property, if the public is invited in to meet with government officials, falls within the jurisdiction of Goodwin’s bill. I see the same prospect CLCJM sees, not just boxing out imaginary Sharia backers but anyone whom the Attorney General can be convinced is “objectionable”.

  17. Bob Newland 2017-02-03 15:14

    grudznick, I’d appreciate it if you quit referring to me as your “friend.” Truth is, if I knew who you were I would throw (virtual of course) eggs at your house.

  18. Roger Cornelius 2017-02-03 16:17

    Bob,
    Kevin Woster refers to grudz, “as that thing that calls himself grudz”.

  19. Bob Newland 2017-02-03 17:16

    Roger, I referred to grudz in that manner in a comment in Woster’s blog. It’s possible that Woster also did, but it doesn’t sound like him.

  20. Roger Cornelius 2017-02-03 18:00

    Bob,
    Well, maybe it was you, Kevin is much too well mannered to tell the truth about grudz.

  21. Mark Winegar 2017-02-03 19:22

    HB 1145 is unconstitutional on it’s face!

  22. Roxanne Weber 2017-02-03 19:35

    We will see him at the hearings AND at the voting booth!!!

  23. barry freed 2017-02-04 09:12

    Cory,
    Don’t really put much value on anything Goodwin has had to say, I was wondering if politicians are currently using private leases to insulate themselves from us.

  24. barry freed 2017-02-04 09:18

    Roxanne,
    We need an IM for recalling politicians. At this time, only some Mayors can be recalled in S.D.. We may find that waiting for 2018 to throw bums out may be too little too late. A Recall Law would give Lawmakers and the Governor the immediate feedback they need and deserve. They would present us a better attitude and more respect, knowing a recall was possible.

  25. Roxanne Weber 2017-02-04 09:31

    Barry I completely agree!! If you know how to get that process started, I’m on board for organizing the petition signatures!

  26. Rebecca Terk 2017-02-04 10:27

    Thanks for this post, Cory. Though I hope the bill is withdrawn ASAP, a committee hearing would certainly be an excellent engagement tool for (apparently intimidating) community organizers like myself.

  27. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2017-02-04 17:48

    Community organizers are very scary to Republicans, Rebecca, especially after they saw all the work that gets done when a community organizer becomes President.

Comments are closed.