Peaceful (but noisy) protest--am I right or wrong?
By mmiller26
@mmiller26 (1930)
Canada
October 18, 2008 10:50am CST
Every Saturday morning around 10:30am a group of people show up to protest something or other. Because I live on the corner of a busy street, they're basically standing on my lawn while they protest. And until today they've been quiet while they stand out there and hold their signs--aside from people driving by constantly honking their horns in support of whatever they're protesting. I'm generally okay with that and haven't said anything until today. I took my son out for breakfast and when I got home, they were standing on the corner, on my lawn, and one of the men was using a bullhorn to shout stuff about the war. I walked over and told them to please stop using the bullhorn. I don't mind them using my lawn (as long as they don't leave garbage behind) and I certainly don't disagree with what they're protesting. But I do mind them shouting into a speaker while doing it. My husband is undergoing cancer treatments right now and needs his rest and he doesn't need to be hearing people shouting outside his window. And I think that they would be more effective standing on the busiest street in Windsor (Tecumseh Rd) or standing in front of a government building where it will do some good, instead of standing on my lawn and shouting at the people at the farmer's market across the street. lol.
After I spoke to them, they left about 5 minutes later. I have no idea where they went. They'd said something about marching today and that's why they had the bullhorn. I don't know whether or not they'll be back next week.
My question is, was I right to ask them to stop using the bullhorn? I told them I don't mind them protesting, but I didn't want to hear them on speaker. But in a way, I'm disrupting the protest system. They were protesting peacefully, just noisily. Was I right or wrong?
5 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
18 Oct 08
I think you had every right to ask them to stop using the bullhorn and that you have been very generous about allowing them to gather on your property while holding their protest. The right to gather in public for a peaceful protest does not trump your rights. I'm glad they respected your request and don't believe that you disrupted the protest system in any way. I hope your husband feels better soon. 
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
18 Oct 08
Thank you. I don't like to disrupt my husband too much since he's feeling poorly. But I didn't want to come off as a complete bit¢h either. lol. I rent, so it's not technically my property. But I still have to listen to them. This was the first time they'd brought the bullhorn, so hopefully it's not likely to happen again.
@piniongrl (142)
• United States
18 Oct 08
I think that by asking them directly and not calling the cops you handled yourself in the most respectable way.
1 person likes this
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
18 Oct 08
If they were being rowdy or leaving garbage on my lawn, I might call the cops to deal with them. My landlord is a police officer so I could probably get him to come over and tell them to get off his property. lol. But normally they just show up with their signs and stand there for about two hours and watch traffic go by. People honk their horns while they pass in their cars, and while that's sometimes irritating, I don't generally have a problem with it. But I didn't want them to think that it was all right to start showing up every weekend with a bullhorn just so they could shout at traffic and the farmer's market.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
19 Oct 08
Well, you were certainly a lot nicer than I would have been. the bullhorn would have been the absolute end of it. I would have shown them ways to use a bullhorn they never knew existed. I'm all for peacefull public protest, whether I agrea with the cause or not. However, when there taking the liberty of using my lawn (with out asking) and makign racket outside my home, thats the end of it.
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Oct 08
Like I said, I'm the corner house on a busy intersection, so in order for them to protest without blocking the sidewalk, they pretty much have to stand on the edge of my lawn. I don't mind it so much when they're quiet. In fact, sometimes I think it's funny simply because it's so ineffectual. I love activism and when it's done properly it certainly can motivate change, but just standing on a street holding up homemade signs every week and shouting at a farmer's market probably isn't going to bring the change they're looking for.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
18 Oct 08
I'm not against protesting although I have never done it but, I think that people should be respectful if they are protesting in a residential area. I think I would have asked them to quit using the bullhorn or I would call the police. I don't know the laws in Canada but I think that you should have your right to peaceful living.
1 person likes this
@chameleonsdream (1230)
• United States
18 Oct 08
You were absolutely within your rights, and would have been well within your rights at any other time to have asked them to please step off your lawn. The right to protest does not include the right to cause a disturbance to residents and property owners. I'd feel the same way about that if your only reason for asking them to quiet down was that they were drowning out your television. Good for you for speaking up. I hope that they had the courtesy to apologize for the disturbance.
1 person likes this
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
18 Oct 08
They did apologize once they realized that it was my house they were protesting at every weekend. And I told them I didn't have a problem with it. Most of the time I think it's funny when they show up because it's such an odd location. Thank you for your support of my decision.
