Thoughts on the May 28th Jefferson Memorial Protest/Arrests?
This news is being reported elsewhere at greater length, in more detail, and with more inflamed passions. Still, events that occurred during the most recent silent dance protest inside the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC– “in celebration of the first amendment’s champion and in response to US District Judge John D. Bates’ ruling” that prohibits peaceful demonstration on memorial grounds– should be documented on Coilhouse as well. Whenever an incident like this takes place, the more space we create in our communities for rational discussion and analysis, the better, right?
In addition to affording us an opportunity to think more deeply about the ramifications of a ruling like Bates’, the circumstances surrounding the May 28th Jefferson Memorial protest give us the chance to critically examine and debate the most powerful forms of civil disobedience we have to choose from.
How, in the future, can American citizens most effectively protest the passing of laws that we believe to be unjust, even insidious?
Here’s an excerpt from a particularly interesting op-ed piece, “D.C. Circuit Opinion Banning Dancing at Memorials Deserves Very Close Scrutiny” by Forbes writer Ben Kerschberg, written shortly before the May 28th protest took place, in response to the galvanizing ruling against Brooke Oberwetter:
The D.C. Circuit states that “the government is free to establish venues for the expression of its viewpoint” and that “it is not obligated to allow other monuments expressing alternative viewpoints” It further states: the “Jefferson Memorial . . . was built by the government for the precise purpose of promoting a particular viewpoint about Jefferson.”
Respectfully, could the court please explain–it did not–what viewpoint about Jefferson the Memorial embodies? And did Oberwetter in any manner act in a way “expressing alternative viewpoints” antithetical to that embodiment?
Mr. Jefferson isn’t here today to weigh in on this matter, and quite frankly, given our separation of powers, his opinion neither would–nor should–have any bearing on the courts.
But I do think he would be disappointed with the D.C. Circuit’s opinion here.
May 30th, 2011 at 9:51 am
somewhat disturbingly, I barely found any mention of this on any major news sites X(
June 1st, 2011 at 6:18 am
I can’t believe I’m only just now reading about this. That is seriously messed up.
June 1st, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Thank you for posting this. I’m not really sure what to think of this. I need to read the entire decision but from what you posted the judge seems to view the government as its own organism. One that is under no obligation to see to any interest but that of itself not an institution that derives its power from the consent of the governed. I grew up near Monticello and it makes me sad that the ideals Jefferson stood for seem to be treated as something to put on a self and idolize instead of something to wear around you everyday like a comfy jacket. Something to use. It begs the question though. Why so many prohibited activities around the monument? Somewhere along the way, offending people or the possibility of offending someone became legally punishable. The nonsense about even saying the word gay in Tennessee comes to mind.
June 2nd, 2011 at 5:23 pm
This is proof that fascism is running rampant in the law enforcement community; before we know it black body armored storm troopers will be at every corner and every public place will be a check point.