Friday, September 25, 2009

Protesters and Students and Thugs at the G20 in Pittsburgh

During the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, there has been some much publicized damage in Oakland (the University district). But before you condemn the protesters as wanton vandals: the local press records that most of the damage was done by students who went out to taunt the protesters and were forcibly dispersed by the police.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_644908.html

I just passed the "Free Tibet" protesters in Squirrel Hill - organized, respectful, quiet but clear. They are an important example of our freedom to dissent, and to draw the attention of our governments to those issues we think are important.


Don't get me wrong, there are a few idiots who have come into town just to cause trouble. It is a crying shame that, thanks to a few deliberate thugs, excitable students, nervous police, and the press who follow (and encourage) all of them, one would think that the right to dissent publicly is a freedom we no longer merit.

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