NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The Southern Poverty Law Center was joined by several civil rights organizations on Saturday for the "Vote No on Act 3" rally, just steps from the New Orleans City Hall. Organizers say the rally was aimed to inform and educate Louisiana residents about the harms of the prop osed Act 3 legislation and encourage them to vote against it. OPDA’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative and Special Victims Unit secure guilty verdicts The proposed constitutional amendment would lead to more juveniles being tried as adults in Louisiana. In 2024, Louisiana's "Raise the Age" law was reversed, meaning 17-year-olds arrested for any crime will be tried as an adult. Organizers say Act 3 would lift limitations for lawmakers and allow minors as young as 14 to be charged as an adult for "any crime," instead of creating pathways to rehabilitate for the youth. "If we want to add more penalties to our Constitution, for which young people can be charged for and tried for in adult courts, we're not giving them a greater start in life, but we are further penalizing them for simply going through life, trying to understand life, but not teaching them the steps, not providing them the resources for that as well," said Christopher Johnson, executive director of the Mobilizing Millennials Organization. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts George Foreman, boxing legend and grill mogul, dead at 76 Sanders-AOC rallies setting stage for protest movement: Activist Major League Baseball removes references to 'diversity' from MLB Careers home page 'Gilmore Girls' star makes surprising confession Young Michigan hockey player goes home after months of rehab ...read more read less