And it pisses me off. Why? Not because I have some connection with the Westboro Baptist Church (in fact I loathe them for giving non-extremist Christians, and others, a bad rep.) but because people who are posting and agreeing with these pictures are being idiots.
Here's what I know. The WBC is very good at what it does. They have been doing it for years. Years! And yes the text in the pictures is correct...you won't see WBC getting tear gassed at their protests. Want to know why? THEY FOLLOW THE LAW! That's right. They set up their protests with the local cops. They occupy the spaces allowed for them only during the hours assigned to them. They don't touch others, they don't camp, and if a cop tells them to move....they do.
Your right to protest and your right to free speech are only yours when you are following all laws. You can't pick and choose which ones you want to follow.
Sure your protest might be peaceful, but if it is held in a city park that has posted closing hours and you stay later..........or if the city has an ordinance about no camping on public sidewalks, yet some of your protesters take naps........you are breaking a law. The police are within their rights to do something to correct the situation. Don't misunderstand, tear gassing a group of peaceful sit-in protesters is extreme and uncalled for. However, if the really story is out there somewhere, I bet it also tells of how the city has laws that the protesters are somehow violating.
I hate the internet pictures that get passed around like wildfire and just make those who are protesting something worthy look like idiots. Don't pass that stuff around. Be smart. Know the laws, get them on your side. The easiest way to win a fight with the law is show those in command that the law actually does include you.
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The same thoughts apply to the Facebook status posting of :
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