Judge Upholds North Carolina’s Anti-Rioting Law, Dismisses ACLU Lawsuit

The federal judge ruled that the law does not violate free speech or the right to assemble peacefully.

Students and demonstrators protest at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill on April 29, 2024, in a still from video. AP/Screenshot via NTD

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of North Carolina challenging the state’s anti-riot law.

The ACLU sued the state after legislators passed an amendment to the Ant-Riot Act last year, increasing the criminal punishment for rioting or inciting a riot. The measure was in response to protests that have turned violent in recent years.