(LibertySociety.com) – The First Amendment gives every US citizen the right to peacefully assemble and voice their opinions on any issue they please. But when the gatherings give way to criminal activity, that’s where the law draws the line, or it could cost everyone who holds insurance. During the Black Lives Matter protests following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, participant Nautica Turner allegedly took part in illegal activity by setting a 7-Eleven ablaze in St. Louis, Missouri.
On October 6, she faced charges for conspiracy to commit arson for the incident on June 1, 2020. She could serve up to 5 years in prison and pay a $250,000 fine.
Nautica Turner conspired with a group to destroy a 7-Eleven, poured lighter fluid inside, and set it on fire, prosecutors said.
She could face up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.https://t.co/9y4TT7bsBQ
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 7, 2021
Turner wasn’t the only one to escalate the situation. During the summer of 2020, insurance claims related to the BLM protests and subsequent riots soared upwards of between $1-2 billion. The kicker is that the tally keeps rising across the United States.
The last time the country saw such high damages for civil unrest was back in 1992 during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. Claims topped $775 million at the time, translating to about $1.4 billion in today’s money.
When demonstrations erupt into violence and destruction, it not only costs the insurance companies money for repair claims, the costs generally translate into higher premiums for all policyholders. Plus, escalated widespread violence and damage dwarf any other message peaceful, non-violent protesters might have been attempting to convey.
Copyright 2021, LibertySociety.com
