Washington lawmakers aim for felony charges for Sea-Tac protest highway obstructions

SEATAC, Wash. — Some state lawmakers are trying to make it a felony crime to intentionally obstruct Washington highways.

This comes after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the expressway leading to Sea-Tac International Airport for three hours Monday. Some Sea-Tac travelers trying to catch flights left their cars and opted to walk to the terminal in hopes of making their flights.

Cars and people blocked the roadway - including a group of protesters who used a piping device called a "Sleeping Dragon" to lock their arms together.

The group is demanding a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, and their protest was part of a larger coordinated effort nationwide to protest the war in Gaza together on April 15.

RELATED: 46 protesters charged for shutting down road to Sea-Tac airport

The same lawmakers who insisted protesters who block a freeway should face harsher penalties during the last legislative session said they will try again.

House Bill 2358 was introduced in January, shortly after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked part of I-5 in Seattle for hours the backup stretched for six miles. The group parked cars, and some sat on the freeway. Another group also interlocked their arms with the Sleeping Dragon device not far from Mercer Street.

But Republican Representative Spencer Hutchins said the measure got no traction. He and the bill’s sponsor, Representative Andrew Barkis, are incensed by Monday's protest. Barkis took to social media posting: "When I introduced House Bill 2358 back in January to increase penalties for illegal highway blockades, I said Washington would not tolerate anarchy on our highways. I was wrong. Not only are we still tolerating it, but we are inviting it through our inaction."

"It's inconsiderate, it's unlawful, it should be more unlawful, and we have legislation to fix this," said Representative Spencer Hutchins of the 26th Legislative District.

RELATED: 46 pro-Palestinian protestors arrested for blocking road to Sea-Tac airport

Sea-Tac said 24 flights were delayed Monday as a result of the incident.

"I am really upset that House Bill 2358 did not get a hearing in the community safety justice reentry committee and didn't get a vote on the House floor. This should be something that we should consider. I guarantee you HB 2358 will be reintroduced in the next session. It needs to be considered," insisted Hutchins.

Forty-six protestors were arrested in Monday's Sea-Tac protest, and according to Sea-Tac Municipal court, each is facing misdemeanor charges, including failure to disperse and disorderly conduct

A misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and up to a thousand-dollar fine.

" A gross misdemeanor isn't enough when you have three hours' worth of people's lives being interrupted when you have law enforcement and first responders who can't get through in the event of an emergency, this is serious thousands of people whose people whose lives were interrupted, this is serious and this is worth the felony that we look at in House Bill 2358."

Twelve people were arrested after the January protest on I-5 in Seattle shutdown. They are facing possible gross misdemeanor charges. The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office (KCPAO) is expected to make a charging decision soon.

Hutchins, who's not seeking reel-election, said the original bill had 40 cosponsors, including four democrats. He said lawmakers will try again in the new session. He said it will come down to political will.