Minnesota House passes bill planning to charge protesters for 'disruptive' demonstrations

Shouts of 'shame, shame!' prompt lawmakers to walk out

Protestors gather at the intersection where Philando Castile was shot on 7 July, 2016 in Falcon Heights, Minnesota (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

A Minnesota House committee has approved a bill to charge protesters for police costs associated with disruptive demonstrations.

Protests erupted immediately after the measure was passed 6-3 by the House Civil law Committee.

"Shame on you," CBS Minnesota reported John Thompson, who said he was a friend of Philando Castile, a black man shot and killed by a St Anthony police officer last summer, as shouting.

“You should leave, because those seats you’re sitting in will be replaced by somebody who represents us," Mr Thompson added.

Other reports added his shouts of: “Being black is a crime in Minnesota. We are coming for your seats.”

Shouts of "shame, shame!" prompted lawmakers to walk out without taking up a second measure.

State representative Nick Zerwas, who proposed the measure, said police agencies in the state had spent $2.5m in the past 18 months dealing with protests.

"Taxpayers are holding the bag," Mr Zerwas said. "That's not right."

The bill will go on to the House Public Safety Committee.

Republican lawmakers in several states have proposed bills which could potentially criminalise peaceful protest over the last few weeks.

In Washington, senator Doug Ericksen proposed a law to make protests a felony if they are deemed "economic terrorism".

A Republican lawmaker in Iowa pledged to introduce legislation establishing criminal penalties for protesters who shut down highways.