The following article raises the subject of the current march that is being held at Wall Street, NY, since last week. Approximately 80 protesters were arrested in last Saturday’s march for disorderly conduct and for blocking the traffic. The protesters, who are mostly young, have decreased in number during the past days. They started the march last September 17th, mainly to draw attention to "corporate greed and corrupt politics" in the country, but also to support the end of the U.S war, the need of a health care reform and the abolishment of the death penalty.
I believe in freedom of speech and in the idea that people have the right to claim responsibility for the crisis, which is obviously a consequence of the corruption of the system and the greediness of those who were leading the financial businesses. However, I also believe that the right to peacefully assemble can be limited if your assembly and speech interfere with others' exercise of the same or other rights, which is why you can't protest in the middle of a highway or block a street, etc. Many New Yorkers defend that the police actions are a conspiracy against freedom whereas I believe that there are city ordinances and that is why if you don’t get a permit, you can get arrested. In my opinion, this regulation is simply a way to protect many other businesses, in this case the ones located at Wall Street that could be very damaged by the march.
I do agree with your comment Mer. Had we a lack of order and justice around the streets it could all erupt in true chaos and get out of hand. As you have mentioned, there is a right to freedom of speech, but without hurting a third party. Nevertheless it is a crying shame that these marches have happened for they only reflect the unhappiness of the people and the corruption that has been undertaking the government.
ReplyDelete