President Trump drew a clear distinction between lawful peaceful protest and illegal riots. He blamed the riots largely on Antifa and other Left Wing groups. He promised to use the US military to restore order if state governments proved ineffective in stopping the riots. Trump did not invoke the Insurrection Act, last utilized during the LA riots of 1882, but that was the clear implication.
I think going forward, cities ought not to allow spontaneous pouring on to the streets to protest. Intentions notwithstanding, such scenario cannot be peaceful. To require a group to plan their protests ahead of time is not a violation of free speech. After all, we have to wait ten days here in CA to buy a gun. The background check only takes a few minutes. The reason the wait is ten days is a “cooling off”. Why can’t there be a similar cooling off for emotionally-charged protest?
Great comment, Mr. Mockeridge. Which reminds me, I thought most cities had a “parade permit” requirement that should apply in situations such as this. I realize that is a dangerous generalization, as such ordinances may vary widely from place to place. Nevertheless, it would surprise me not at all to learn that the usual suspects in the police departments and administrations of the blue cities just don’t bother enforcing such requirements, especially when they can virtue-signal by “giving the streets and sidewalks to the mourners”, as the totally incompetent Dallas Chief of Police said the other day. Apropos of nothing whatever, I note that her predecessor was recently hired as the head of the Chicago P.D., where, at least according to the invaluable Second City Cop blog, he has already proven conclusively that he should have stayed retired. We’re really on a roll in Dallas.
We should ask for Israeli advisors. They’ve had more practice at putting down terrorist mob violence
There should be some wiggle room– say, a park where you don’t have to schedule ahead to use the shelter, that kind of stuff, basically not carving a “you’re not allowed here” out of normal behavior just because it’s a protest– but to be on the road is not normal.
Just for basic safety, street marches need a permit. That lets the local traffic guys make sure that nobody finds out about the march when they are in the middle of it!
In Sioux Falls yesterday, the Police cleared traffic for the marchers, blocked intersections and gave them free reign over the main east-west commercial thoroughfare.
And for their efforts, the antifa plants in the protest march started throwing rocks at the cops just as soon as the sun started to set.
But I agree with you. Every city needs it’s own version of Trafalgar Square, where anybody, Diogenes, Crank, or Court Jester, can mount his soap box and Opine to his heart’s content.
Does Trump also promise you’ll be able to hear the lamentation of their women (and they’ll be spectacular)?
(Sorry, couldn’t resist)
the LA riots of 1882?
Am I 110 years off?
QWERTY is a cruel and unforgiving mistress, Kathryn.