The Manhattan Institute Helped Kill DEI. Now It’s Coming for Protests

The Manhattan Institute is promoting a "civil terrorism" theory to criminalize nonviolent protest actions (e.g., vandalism, blocking roadways, trespassing), backing model state laws that would escalate such acts to felonies with prison terms; Utah has enacted related legislation and a similar Arizona bill is awaiting a vote. The campaign targets left-wing activist movements and includes provisions such as heightened penalties, restrictions on protest masks, and measures related to alleged coordination with foreign organizations.