SCOTUS Cracking Down On Disruptive Protests

A group of activists protesting the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision have received stiffer-than-usual penalties. Five people from the group 99Rise, which opposes the influence of big money in elections, were arrested last week and could face penalties of up to one year in prison, or $100,000 in fines. That’s a marked change from the previous charges facing similar outbursts, in which protestors faced up to 60 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. Chief Justice John Roberts has warned from the bench that any further disruptions would meet criminal charges of contempt.