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The “Stop Nick Shirley Act”: How California Democrats Are Moving to Criminalize Citizen Journalism
thecurrentreport.com ^ | April 13, 2026 | Cece Woods

Posted on 04/13/2026 2:52:37 PM PDT by lowbridge

They don’t call it censorship anymore.

They call it protection.

Protection for communities. Protection for organizations. Protection from “threats.” The language is softer now, more strategic, designed to pass scrutiny without triggering it. But behind California’s AB 2624, the intent is harder to ignore: if you document the wrong thing, in the wrong place, involving the wrong people, the state may decide you shouldn’t be allowed to show it at all.

And this time, they’re not going after institutions.

They’re going after the individuals who don’t need one.

In Sacramento, that effort now has a bill number.

AB 2624.

According to Carl DeMaio, it also has a far more revealing name: the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.” The label may sound provocative, but it captures the underlying shift this legislation represents, a direct challenge to the rise of independent, citizen-led investigative reporting.

Because journalists like Nick Shirley don’t operate within traditional systems. They don’t rely on institutional access or editorial gatekeeping. They show up, film what’s happening in real time, and publish it directly to the public. No filters. No delays. No permission.

That model has proven effective precisely because it bypasses control.

And now, Sacramento appears ready to regulate it.

Authored by Mia Bonta, AB 2624 is being framed as a necessary measure to protect organizations that serve immigrant communities from harassment and threats. On the surface, that framing is politically difficult to oppose. But the bill’s actual language extends far beyond its stated purpose.

During a recent Assembly committee hearing, DeMaio confronted Bonta over provisions that would allow individuals affiliated with certain organizations to demand the removal of video recordings, even if those recordings were taken in public spaces.

That distinction is not minor.

It is foundational.

(Excerpt) Read more at thecurrentreport.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: ab2624; california; coverup; crime; democrats; domesticenemies; journalism; nickshirley; unconstitutional

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1 posted on 04/13/2026 2:52:37 PM PDT by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge

Good luck with that. The 1A didn’t say “free press” is only for CNN-like organizations. Any citizen can hold government accountable. This is straight-up what fascists do.


2 posted on 04/13/2026 3:00:25 PM PDT by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing of poor moral choices among everybody)
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To: fuzzylogic
The "press" in the 1st amendment was literally the printing press. It was the right of the people to publish.

The term "the press" to refer to journalists didn't begin until the 1920s.

-PJ

3 posted on 04/13/2026 3:03:03 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: lowbridge
Authored by Mia Bonta

The California Attorney General's wife is authoring this unconstitutional bill?

-PJ

4 posted on 04/13/2026 3:05:04 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: lowbridge

Navigator to pilot: We are over the target.


5 posted on 04/13/2026 3:06:23 PM PDT by VRW Conspirator (How it started: Covfefe -> -> -> How it is going: COVFAFO)
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To: fuzzylogic

To protect “immigrant communities?” You could probably toss in the 14th s well.


6 posted on 04/13/2026 3:08:20 PM PDT by Yogafist
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To: GOPJ; poconopundit; Jane Long; Diana in Wisconsin; Grampa Dave; Godzilla; Vaduz; null and void; ...

Patriots, Call Congress
US Capitol switchboard
(202) 224-3121.

Call the White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
TTY/TTD Comments: 202-456-6213

Send a letter to the White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Message: Effective Journalists like Nick Shirley don’t operate within traditional systems. They don’t rely on editorial gatekeeping. They film what’s happening, and publish it directly to the public. No filters. No delays. No permission-——effective precisely because it bypasses control.

And now, Sacramento appears ready to regulate it. Authored by black Democrat Mia Bonta, “AB 2624” is being framed as a necessary measure to “protect” organizations that serve immigrant communities from “harassment and threats.” Bonta’s actual language extends far beyond its stated purpose.

Bonta was confronted over provisions that would allow individuals affiliated with certain organizations to demand the removal of video recordings, even if those recordings were taken in public spaces. That distinction is not minor. It is foundational.

Kill Bonta’s bill now.


7 posted on 04/13/2026 3:12:40 PM PDT by Liz (Jonathan Swift: Govrnment without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery .)
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To: lowbridge

Some apparel entrepreneur is going to have a field day with a plethora of products that all have:

I Am Nick Shirley


8 posted on 04/13/2026 3:13:03 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try. )
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To: lowbridge

I am sure they will pass it and hold a big party.

Will not survive constitutional challenge (assuming anyone has enough money to challenge it)

Every single person who votes for this should be removed from office.


9 posted on 04/13/2026 3:13:19 PM PDT by algore ( )
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To: lowbridge

The first step toward requiring a license to be a journalist.

Right along with the first steps being undertaken to need a license to use the internet, or in some cases computers in general.

The censorship is coming, folks. Rapidly so.


10 posted on 04/13/2026 3:16:56 PM PDT by cross_bearer_02
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To: Political Junkie Too

The bill is not directed at your average joe. It is only directed against fascists, racists and other enemies of the people. So, it should pass constitutional muster.


11 posted on 04/13/2026 3:17:47 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt (Fascist, deplorable, and proud of it!)
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To: lowbridge

individuals affiliated with certain organizations to demand the removal of video recordings, even if those recordings were taken in public spaces.
= = =

Erase all my Liscence Plate reader and all my speed camera stuff.


12 posted on 04/13/2026 3:18:51 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (Running Rampant, and not endorsing nonsense; My pronoun is EXIT. And I am generally full of /S)
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To: Political Junkie Too

The “press” referred to single sheet, hand fed presses which required a screw mechanism to actually “press” the ink on the paper. It doesn’t refer to high speed fully automatic “street sweeper” printing presses or magical radio waves and internets. < /gun control logic applied to the first amendment>


13 posted on 04/13/2026 3:19:10 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Dept. of Education should teach about Nietzsche: DOGE didn't kill it and now it's stronger than ever)
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To: algore
Every single person who votes for this should be removed from office.

Every single person who votes for this should be hanged from a freeway overpass.

Fixed it...

14 posted on 04/13/2026 3:20:48 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt (Fascist, deplorable, and proud of it!)
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To: lowbridge
> Protection from “threats.” <

Some wise person (I forget who) once said that the First Amendment protects unpopular opinions. And that’s because popular opinions need no protection.


15 posted on 04/13/2026 3:25:16 PM PDT by Leaning Right
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To: 17th Miss Regt
The bill is supposed to be an anti-doxxing bill, but its language is so broad as to prevent recording in public, especially people and places engaged in certain immigration-related activities from public spaces.

-PJ

16 posted on 04/13/2026 3:27:59 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: lowbridge

I’m surprised they haven’t killed Nick Shirley yet.


17 posted on 04/13/2026 3:30:04 PM PDT by Fresh Wind (I voted for Trump the Fighter, not a wussified wimp!)
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To: lowbridge

Very dangerous.
News today comes from everywhere and is distributed in almost anyway imaginable.
The receiver of the news also must be better at deciding what to accept.
Such a law threatens a foundation of our freedoms.


18 posted on 04/13/2026 3:32:18 PM PDT by sistergoldenhair
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To: lowbridge
Well, the "Stop Steve Shirley Act" was quite successful.



Then there's the "Don't Call Me 'Shirley' Act".
19 posted on 04/13/2026 3:37:00 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: lowbridge

Easy overturn by SCOTUS if they pass it.


20 posted on 04/13/2026 3:38:49 PM PDT by SmokingJoe
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