C’mon, Seattle. Let’s not get all Portland over provocative protests.
For years, the Rose City was beset by rallies and counter-rallies that hiked up the ire and left residents pining for quieter days.
Now, the Emerald City is once again facing tensions in the streets.
Over the weekend, a Christian anti-abortion group, Mayday USA, held a rally at Cal Anderson Park for people to stand “together for Biblical truth and values.” It was met by a vigorous counterprotest, with people waving transgender pride flags and signs denouncing the “Trump Fascist Regime.”
Seattle police made 23 arrests on various allegations.
On Tuesday, eight more people were arrested in front of Seattle City Hall when the same sides squared off again.
Violence should never be tolerated. But free speech — no matter how odious — must be protected.
The city’s elected officials seem wobbly on that fundamental right.
Councilmember Bob Kettle told KOMO that the city should not have granted a permit to Mayday USA to hold an event at Cal Anderson Park. Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck said: “While I respect First Amendment rights, we must also acknowledge the harm caused when hate groups are able to invade spaces meant to celebrate our community’s vulnerable populations and lift up their contributions to our city.”
Callie Craighead, spokesperson for Mayor Bruce Harrell, said the U.S. Constitution requires the city to grant the permit if space allows. But Harrell has said he wants to understand whether there were locations other than Cal Anderson Park available.
Perhaps it is time for a free speech primer.
The value of protecting speech doesn’t derive from ideas with which you agree. On the contrary, the First Amendment defends expression in all forms. Think neo-Nazi parades in Jewish neighborhoods or offensive messages held up at funerals for fallen service members.
Municipalities must maintain a fair process for permitting public events and make reasonable accommodations.
Let ideas be heard and left to fend for themselves. Folks don’t have to agree with a sentiment to defend someone’s ability to express it.
Once we allow government officials to start defining what’s acceptable free speech, we give up something precious that cannot easily be regained.
As for the protest/counterprotest dynamic: Sometimes it’s best to allow a minority voice to be heard and ignored.
One way to make sure provocative groups don’t line up to get into Cal Anderson Park or anywhere else in the city is to make sure these events end up being the one thing that organizers fear most: boring.
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