Does Anyone Know what "Protest" is?

Fort Madison, IA

One of the common points of confusion among those who craft city ordinances is the difference between "noise" and protected speech & expression. One man's noise is another man's music. That being true, it is also true that the Police Chief of any town is going to have pressure from the people who complain about what they perceive as noise regardless whether or not the complaints are legally founded. It is also true the Police Chief in most towns doesn't really care too much about the legality, and are pushed by the sentiment of those complaining. That's a real problem!

Knowing the above is true, what do we make of Police Chief Niggemeyer's comment that the recent modification to the public demonstration ordinance to include a single individual "protesting" wasn't because of Donna Holman's public protesting in front of Planned Parenthood?

We use common sense, and say "BUNK!"

That's exactly why those changes were required. It is clear to any thinking person Chief Niggemeyer is playing politics and saying what he thinks most people will just accept. Sadly, he's probably right – most will just accept it. The problem is that he's lying.

"With free speech, there probably still won't be much we can do about that (the pictures of the victims of abortion displayed on the sides of the Holman's van) but we've had complaints from people saying they were harassed and spoken to while trying to go into facilities. That it might help," Niggemeyer said.

Let me offer an interpretation of that strange tongue: 'that pesky free speech anyhow!'

So let me ask a question: if the complaints Chief Niggemeyer has received include "harassment," why is the public protest ordinance being modified and instead Donna Holman not charged for harassment? Harassment is already illegal and actionable by law enforcement.

Now let's ask the more basic question that sits in the room like an 800 lb gorilla: what is "protest?" Can it be defined?

Hmmmmm, perhaps this is a veiled attempt by Chief Niggemeyer and his other Catholic chronies to bring back the Inquisition, outlawing all PROTESTants? Does anyone know what the Chief and the City Council's view on The Inquisition is? It would be interesting to find out, wouldn't it? We wouldn't want to live in another Theocracy would we? We can't be too careful to find these important factoids out. [/sarcasm]

One must ask: considering that the Chief received complaints, could we now consider them as "protestations" and violating the protest ordinance? After all, I'm sure Dan and Donna Holman would feel "harassed" by them?

Here's another one to consider: why are the printed portrayals on the Holman's van considered "free speech" (pesky though it is) and not protestation? After all, people's sensibilities are aroused by them, feeling harassed as a result, are they not? Hmmmmmm, what is "protest?"

Here's another one: when a person speaks in protest out in public, what is the volume that carries harassment in its tones? How will a person know they are too loud and harassing to another person? If our "protest" is written in our facial expressions and body language, have we now become guilty of illegal protesting?

Oh, wait, yet another question: if I want to wear a T-Shirt that says "Abortion Sucks" out in public, do I have to get the Chief's prior approval? Would I be cited for violating the newly modified ordinance if it drew a complaint that someone felt "harassed?" After all, do we know what "protest" is?

Does the Chief, the Mayor, the City Council, the City Legal Department, the Receptionist at the front desk, anyone > >>someone call the Governor << < know what "protest" is?

Uncle Raisin

www.UncleRaisin.com

"Raisin" the Standard Against Injustice