N.Y. county lawmakers pass contentious bill allowing police to sue protesters for harassment

County lawmakers in New York approved a bill Monday allowing police officers and other first responders to sue people who harass them because of their profession.

The bill, which passed the Nassau County legislature in a 12-6 vote, still needs the signature of county executive Laura Curran.

The vote came after hours of often-heated public comments, including from police union officials and NAACP members.

Tracey Edwards, the NAACP’s regional director, said that police officers can already arrest people who harass them. And she said the bill “disrespected” movements that had fought against discrimination.

“What you are doing with this bill is you are taking this profession and you are putting that chosen profession above all of those people who fought during the Civil Rights movement,” she said.