Letters to the Editor
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‘Governor Commends Disobedience Methods’
The Sean Bell verdict protesters carefully planned and carried out their demonstrations that were, by their own admission, specifically intended to shut New York City down [New York, “Governor Commends Disobedience Methods,” May 9, 2008].
These protests are similar to those that took place in Times Square at the start of the Iraq War. Both involved widespread interruption of city life and commerce.
They were not targeted in any reasonable way toward the specific objects of their protest, and they needlessly inconvenienced tens of thousands of persons, many of whom may have agreed with their positions.
Such protests also interfere with the passage of police, fire department, ambulance, and other emergency vehicles and jeopardize the safety and lives of others. They are more akin to extortion than free speech.
I’d like to think that our liberal senators and congresspersons and various left-wing groups are hard at work drafting legislation to prevent such protests from ever interrupting the city again and preparing RICO lawsuits against the protesters — just like those that were brought against the pro-life protesters, whose protests were not geared at holding an entire city hostage to their beliefs.
More likely, they only seek to restrict the speech and protests of those with whom they disagree.
PATRICK SULLIVAN
Garden City, N.Y.
