Should protesting be illegal?

[msc545]

The North Carolina Republicans surely think so:

https://www.wral.com/story/nc-budget-would-add-political-pressure-to-prosecutors-not-to-dismiss-charges-against-protesters/21488473/

Yes, illegal!

No not illegal.

[OlderAndWiser]

Protesting in an appropriate place is not illegal and such protesters are not arrested. Trespassing on private property to protest is illegal, as is destruction of property and attacking counter-protesters. Should those crimes be made legal if done in the context of a protest?

[msc545]

No they are just beaten by police.

[BoopBoopBeep]

I didn't vote. I have a lot of friends in NC based on what's in that state. Apparently there's BIG problem now with protestors shutting down roads. Because that impedes emergency services, and as someone who has very much needed those emergency services, the protestors have poisoned the well and have lost any support they once had for whatever causes it is they are protesting. "I'm taking my mom to the hospital." "Someone is breaking into my home and the alarm is going off." "I gotta get to work or get fired." If you're blocking the road you're getting removed. By force, and it's very much not going to be pleasant for you. I think BECAUSE there's been so much road closure muhfuckery (the technical term I believe), the people in NC are getting really fed up with it all together. As with any pendulum, once you push the ball too far it swings back farther in the other direction.

[IslaTheWitch]

in my country, when I was a kid... it was illegal... many people were killed by the soldiers, and special militia units sent to "solve" problems...

but still, protesting should be done with respect for other citizens (no burning cars, damaging properties, or harming police and other units securing the area)

[dustybiker2]

I thought they liked protesting against abortion, for example. Shooting themselves in the foot, no?

[msc545]

They can pick and choose who they arrest, and they do that now.

[dustybiker2]

Wow. That sounds like a free country. Being able to choose who they arrest.

[msc545]

Yup - very free here. If you believe that - I have a bridge for sale that I would like to talk to you about...

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Only illegal if it contains violence.

[ProbablyClueless]

The protesting is not what's being rendered illegal. The violent behavior is.

If someone can't protest without destroying things, I think most people would agree that their voice probably isn't one that needs to be heard.

[WindAtMyBack]

There is nothing in that article that says Republicans want protesting to be illegal. If anything it says just the opposite.

Is the problem than you can't read? Or is it that you can't comprehend what you read?

[msc545]

No, they just want to strongly discourage people from protesting.

Is the problem that as a child you never learned to speak to people in a civil manner, or are you just naturally an asshole?

[WindAtMyBack]

So you agree with me?

"Should protesting be illegal? "
"The North Carolina Republicans surely think so:"

"No, they just want to strongly discourage people from protesting."

You completely contradicted yourself. Make up your mind.

[msc545]

I think that they would prefer to just make it illegal, but they cannot - as yet anyway, -so instead they substituted making it extremely dangerous and unpleasant.

Can you see how these things are related?

[WindAtMyBack]

You are seeing things that aren't there. The only thing I see is people wanting to enforce very reasonable existing laws.

[msc545]

No, I am extrapolating from a very clear data point. You didn't take statistics or logic, did you?

[exitseven]

protests are part of out heritage ever since the legendary Boston Tea Party. It is when the legal system punishes protesters that are protesting the current administration and gives the pro-administration groups a free pass that it is no longer a fair system.

[AviatorTom]

One of the key elements in any democracy is the ability to question the government, and protests are often the best way to do that, so long as they are peaceful.

[KrakenAttackin]

Protesting should never be illegal As long as the protests do not violate the rights or safety of others.

[Drewtate]

No but should be limits. Shouldn't be protesting in the middle of a working day blocking everything up.

[Dr_Lovejoy]

Not only is the is it a right protected by the constitution, it’s the very FIRST amendment. If that right is every taken away, goodbye democracy.

[CaptainSmartass]

Yeah. It should be made illegal. You can start an online petition instead.

Simples...

[Alex-Snow]

Not at all.. it is called freedom of speech

[Pterodon]

Depends if it’s violent like the riots

[Anonymous]

Absolutely, protestingg it tantamount to terrorism