Proposed bills target higher penalties for highway protests: One version mandates raising oft-used charge to felony level

ST. PAUL — Minnesota’s incoming crop of legislators have put forth a slate of bills to heighten criminal and financial penalties against protesters, particularly on highways — including one that would turn one of the most commonly applied charges into a mandated felony.

The charge commonly known as “obstruction of justice” is levied against suspects in a variety of circumstances and is often coupled with more serious charges like assault.

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