Story perspectives

Manhattan Institute Pushes “Civil Terrorism” Label for Protests

6/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

Manhattan Institute is leading a campaign to label protest offenses “civil terrorism.”
It is lobbying to reclassify protest vandalism, blockades and trespassing as felonies with 18 months prison.
Tal Fortgang, a recent New York University (NYU) law graduate, called nonviolent protest “civil terrorism” in Wall Street Journal and City Journal.
Fortgang accused the Answer anti-war network of unlawful activity and suggested it could be subject to Foreign Agents Registration Act.

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Story summary

Manhattan Institute is leading a campaign to label protest offenses “civil terrorism.”
It is lobbying to reclassify protest vandalism, blockades and trespassing as felonies with 18 months prison.
Tal Fortgang, a recent New York University (NYU) law graduate, called nonviolent protest “civil terrorism” in Wall Street Journal and City Journal.
Fortgang accused the Answer anti-war network of unlawful activity and suggested it could be subject to Foreign Agents Registration Act.