“A healthy environment won’t just happen because we wish it,” Kosuth said. “As with all social movements, we must push, organize, and yes, even protest.”

Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, said the bill isn't an attempt to stifle the voices of anyone who wants to protest.

"They can protest," Denzler said. "We’re looking at the individual who's committing more enhanced crime by knowingly damaging infrastructure."

Denzler said a claim made during the news conference that the bill could be used to prosecute someone who spray paints a utility pole is false, and that the words “defacing” and “vandalism” were removed from the bill in the negotiation process.

"We’re seeing more protest, but we’re seeing more protests where they’re intentionally damaging or destroying infrastructure,” Denzler said.

But Cary Shepherd, policy director of the Illinois Environmental Council, said the language of the bill is misleading and broad.

He said it gives the impression it would apply only to larger facilities, like nuclear power plants, when it could also be applied to prosecute anyone who defaces or causes “minor damage to an abandoned rail yard.”