Yeah, let's ban protest from public space to some noman's land or desert so nobody gets confronted or even offended by a reality different from their own.
This type of behavior is counterproductive to whatever cause activists are advocating. This doesn’t convince anyone to support their stance, if anything it makes people angry and not want to associate with you. What does blocking traffic actually accomplish infurtning your goals. Not to mention blocking traffic blocks emergency traffic, but can also have dire consequences (ie the guy that had to go back to jail if he was late to his court hearing or probation… something like that). Or what about the kid who had waited 3 months to see a specialist for a medical issue, now missing their appointment.
I also think this should be considered illegal detainment since you’re basically trapping people with no way to leave.
Some people are confused about "freedom" and think it means you have the right to drive the golden Bridge at any given time.
back to the topic:
no, but i think that it's a part of living in a open, democratic society that your daily routine can get once in a while interrupted by people protesting. let's be honest, how often are you getting stopped by some street protest every year? i cannot agree to this degree of outrage, only because some streets or bridges are temporarily blocked .
I’m sorry, what are you even talking about? If you are legally able to drive a vehicle, you have the right to travel on a public road unless for whatever reason it is shut down.
In most places it is indeed illegal to block traffic by sitting or standing in the road, even if it’s a protest. Do believe people have the fundamental right to the freedom of travel? The freedom to travel on public highways is recognized as a right in America. If you are blocking people’s ability to travel in your protest stunt, you are infringing on others rights.
Explain to me why you have the right to block other people’s freedom of travel just because you want to protest.
And what if many if not the majorly of the people being inconvenienced actually agree, at least on some level, with the protest’s message?
I encourage you to think about the consequences people may suffer because you feel your beliefs are so important that…
1) Blocking emergency vehicles is acceptable. If a person dies because you caused a traffic jam, preventing or significantly affecting the ambiance’s ability to reach the person or hospital, should you be responsible?
2) If your house was burning down and a group was protesting something you’re absolutely opposed to, how would like it if the fire truck was stuck in traffic
3) What about the people on a schedule that if they miss their appointment, might lose their job, custody of child, freedom (ie those on probation).
ALSO- If a car accident occurs because you’re illegally sitting in the middle of the road ie a car swerves into a guardrail or another car, you could be held liable. Though i sense many people have the time to do this probably have nothing to sue for.
The amount of narcissism required for people to not even consider the impact of their behavior on others is revolting. And this type of activism does not persuade people. It only makes people angry and to want nothing to do with you- even of they might agree in principle. Disrupting people’s daily lives is totally counterproductive. It’s not likely your evening targeting the protest at those who oppose your beliefs.
People who feel strongly about things should exercise their right to protest. But that does not mean there are not limitations in place on protesting. But protesters also need to ask themselves if how they present themselves is helping the cause or harming it.
There’s productive activism and nonproductive activism. This specifically is never going to be productive.
And no offense, whatever message you think is so important that entitles you to inhibit people’s autonomy to go about their life, sorry it’s not. If protestors don’t respect others, why should anyone give you the respect to listen to your message. If you want to promote your cause and inspire others to take up your cause, find a healthy way of doing it that fosters positivity and attraction.
And if you do block traffic don’t be the environments protesting oil only to cause a traffic jam for miles of idling cars. It doesn’t get much more counterproductive.
I’m sure you wouldn’t be happy if it was the KKK blocking the highway promoting the neo Nazi party when you needed to get work.
