Police Arrest Nine People at Idaho State Capitol During HB752 Protest

A protest at the Idaho State Capitol on Wednesday evening turned into a criminal event, resulting in the arrest of nine people. It is believed that the people were there to protest the recently passed House Bill 752.

The protesters refused to leave the Governor’s Office after hours, despite police requests for them to do so.

Idaho State Police Arrested Nine People at the Idaho State Capitol During Protest

The arrests happened around 5:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1st, inside the Governor’s Office at the Idaho Capitol Building. According to the report from the Idaho State Police, the protestors ‘refused multiple lawful requests to leave the building.’ ISP troopers arrested nine people, all of whom were booked into the Ada County Jail on misdemeanor trespass charges.

In the report from the Idaho State Police, they added that they support the public right to express opinions and engage in lawful protest. Since the protestors refused to comply with lawful orders, their arrests were necessary to maintain order and ensure safety.

What Were The Idaho State Capitol Protestors Protesting on April 1st

The protest was over the recently passed House Bill 752, which was signed into law by Governor Little. The law requires people to use the bathrooms in certain public spaces that correlate to their biological gender rather than their chosen gender identity. The ACLU believes the bill would weaponize the law, making it ‘a crime for a trans person to enter a public bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.’

The law applies to bathrooms in public spaces, including government buildings, libraries, airports, hospitals, rest stops, and other public bathrooms. Three other states, Utah, Florida, and Kansas, have similar laws banning trans people from using a bathroom that aligns with their gender identity rather than their biological gender.

The bill falls under the Indecency and Obscenity chapter in the Idaho Code. A first offense would be a misdemeanor and include up to one year in jail. A second offense within five years would be a felony with up to five years in prison.

READ ALSO: 5 New Laws That Go Into Effect In Idaho This Year

The law goes into effect on July 1st, 2026.