Sen. Chris Murphy said Senate and House Democrats are proposing legislation that they are calling the "No Political Enemies Act" to quell political violence.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, on Thursday announced Senate and House Democrats are proposing the No Political Enemies Act to protect free speech in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's shooting death on Sept. 10. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI UPI Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called free speech a "hallmark of America" after President Donald Trump announced he was classifying Antifa as a "major terrorist organization" during a Thursday news conference announcing the proposed No Political Enemies Act at the Capitol in Washington. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI UPI Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said the proposed No Political Enemies Act would protect free speech and accused President Donald Trump of "quashing" the First Amendment since taking office on January 20 during the Thursday afternoon news conference in Washington. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI UPI

Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Sen. Chris Murphy said Senate and House Democrats are proposing legislation that they are calling the "No Political Enemies Act" to quell political violence.

Murphy, D-Conn., accused President Donald Trump of weaponizing the federal government to "destroy" political opposition in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's shooting death on Sept. 10, while announcing the proposed NOPE Act on Thursday.

"They aren't even hiding what they are trying to do," Murphy said during a news conference, a video of which he posted on social media.

"President Trump himself publicly threatened to arrest members of the Soros family simply for funding groups that oppose his agenda," Murphy said.

He said Senate and House Democrats will introduce legislation to create the NOPE Act and "make sure the law is on the side of free speech and the right to dissent."

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The president has called on the Justice Department to "go on the hunt for his political enemies," and Attorney General Pam Bondi has threatened to arrest people for "speech that she doesn't agree with," Murphy said.

He called the alleged political hunt "bone-chilling" and said new protections must be enacted to protect against the president and others targeting people and organizations for "political speech."

The proposed NOPE Act would create a legal defense for those allegedly targeted for political reasons and provide "real consequences" for officials who use the power of the government to target protected speech, Murphy explained.

The proposed act also would enable plaintiffs to recover attorney and legal fees when successfully defending themselves against alleged government harassment.

"This is a decision moment for the country," Murphy said. "Conservatives who say that they support democracy and free speech need to speak up right now."

A wide cross-section of free speech advocates and organizations support the proposed NOPE Act, he said, and called it legislation that they can "rally around."

Sens. Chuck Schumer, D.N.Y., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and others joined Murphy in announcing the proposed legislation Thursday afternoon in Washington.