Louisiana Takes Steps to Criminalize Protests at Churches

Louisiana considers law protecting church services after Minneapolis protest, Don Lemon arrest

Some Louisiana lawmakers want to make it a state crime to disrupt religious services, weeks after an anti-ICE protesters interrupted a Minneapolis church service, drawing condemnation from conservatives across the country.

Red state moves to criminalize protests in and around churches

A Louisiana Senate committee advanced two bills Tuesday that seek to criminalize disruptive protests in and near churches, but free speech advocates believe they are unconstitutional.A judiciary committee approved Senate Bill 35 by Sen. Bill Wheat, R-Ponchatoula, and Senate Bill 306 by Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Central, sending them to the full Senate. The bills are among several filed in the wake of a Jan. 18 protest at a Minneapolis church where an…

Free Speech Advocates Warn Louisiana Bills Could Restrict Church Protests

BATON ROUGE, La. — A Louisiana Senate committee advanced two bills Tuesday that would impose criminal penalties for disruptive protests at or near houses of worship, drawing criticism from free speech advocates who argue the measures may violate constitutional protections. The Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 35 by Sen. Bill Wheat (R-Ponchatoula) and Senate Bill 306 by Sen. Rick Edmonds (R-Central), sending both proposals to the full Sen…

Louisiana takes steps to criminalize protests at churches

State Sen. Rick Edmonds, with his wife, Cindy, speaks with reporters after he qualified to run for the 5th Congressional District at the State Archives in Baton Rouge on Feb. 11, 2026. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)A Louisiana Senate committee advanced two bills Tuesday that seek to criminalize disruptive protests in and near churches, but free speech advocates believe they are unconstitutional.  A judiciary committee approved Senate Bill 3…

Bills criminalizing church protests advance in Louisiana

(The Center Square) – Two bills seeking to impose criminal penalties for disrupting a church service advanced in the Louisiana Legislature on Tuesday.

Two state Senate bills seek to criminalize protests in, near churches

BATON ROUGE — A state Senate committee advanced two bills on Tuesday with the purpose of criminalizing disruptive protests in and around churches. Both SB 35 by Sen. Bill Wheat, R-Ponchatoula, and SB 306 by Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Central, were sent to the Senate floor. Both bills, if signed into law, would criminally punish those whose protests disturb or disrupt worship services. Edmonds' law specifically says that using force, threats of force, …