Oklahoma bill aims to hold employers liable for paid protesters damages [View all]

OKLAHOMA CITY — A lawmaker is pushing for a state law that would hold special interest groups and employers liable for the behavior of any protesters they’ve hired.

State Rep. Mark McBride’s measure comes as suspicions flare nationwide that special interest groups are paying people to disrupt congressional town halls or impede pipeline projects.

“If you are a paid protester and you come to Oklahoma or you live here and you cause destruction of public or private property… we’re going to hold the person that paid you responsible for the damages because they are your employer,” said McBride, R-Moore.

McBride acknowledged it might be a challenge to prove which of the protesters are actually being paid.

While there’s been no sign that protesters-for-hire have infiltrated Oklahoma yet, McBride said his measure is a proactive one, particularly as some people have already threatened to protest the construction of the 440-mile Diamond Pipeline, which will one-day transport crude oil from Oklahoma to Tennessee.

Read more: http://www.edmondsun.com/cnhi_network/oklahoma-bill-aims-to-hold-employers-liable-for-paid-protesters/article_05d7d4e1-8990-5483-8cb0-c136c9c1bf6f.html