Baltimore County Delegate Pre-Files Legislation That Would Punish People Who Vandalize Statues With Up To 10 Years In Prison
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- A Baltimore County lawmaker has pre-filed legislation that would punish people who vandalize or destroy state monuments with up to 10 years in prison.
Del. Nino Mangione, a Republican, said Tuesday he was pre-filing the draft legislation ahead of the 2021 General Assembly session.
The Monument Protection Act of 2021 would make it illegal to damage, destroy or vandalize a monument, memorial or "statue of historical significance" in the state. Punishments would range from a mandatory six months behind bars and up to $500 fine for minor damage to up to a decade in prison and a $2,500 fine for major damage."
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In a news release, Mangione said the legislation would give the state "the opportunity to stand up to this criminal behavior and say no more."
"The lawless behavior we have seen exhibited in recent days by Antifa like mobs is a threat and embarrassment to every Marylander," he said. "This legislation holds these criminals accountable for their behavior and seeks to put an end to this lawlessness."
Mangione announced the legislation three days after protesters toppled a statue of Christopher Columbus in Baltimore's Little Italy neighborhood.
In a statement, Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said while there were officers in the area on the night the statue was torn down and thrown into the harbor, "it was tactically unsafe for those few officers to position themselves between the protestors and the Christopher Columbus Statue in attempt to prevent vandalism and destruction."
The city's police union disputed Harrison's version of events, saying there were "several teams of highly-trained officers nearby and at the ready."
