Letters to the Editor
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‘Long Arm of the Law’
Concerning police activity against the so-called protesters to the Republican National Convention, I think the police did the prudent thing by planning in advance and focusing on potential trouble makers [Editorial, “Long Arm of the Law,” March 26 2007].
In 2000, I was a New York delegate to the Republican convention in Philadelphia and even then there were scattered outbreaks of violence and some not-so-civil disobedience. Our delegation stayed at the Warwick Hotel and there was at least one major violent disturbance right near us.
Sometimes the “free speech” issue is almost absurd. Those marching and demonstrating their hatred of President Bush and of America ultimately had plenty of coverage in newspapers and on television, so despite their claims of having their voices silenced, it was quite the contrary. They got their message across, because they had access to the press. It is that access to the press that gives people like the demonstrators and the Al Sharptons more free speech than the average citizen will ever know.
And as the Sun correctly stated, what about the Republicans’ right to free speech and to be able to attend each session and help participate in the electoral process? May I suggest that any demonstrator who attempts to halt the movement of a delegate be cited with a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
Though I was not a delegate in 2004, my leanings were known and displayed to all. And some of the out-of-towners said to me, a New Yorker all my 54 years, “Republican go home.”
It would not surprise me if some of our out-of-town friends travel to New York this spring to celebrate the glory and courage of the wonderful Communist Party USA. But I doubt that New York Republicans would try to block their way into any of the proceedings.
EVAN EDWARDS
New York, N.Y.
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