Honk to Impeach?

[philbot.livejournal.com]

Did anyone else find the "HONK TO IMPEACH" plackard-carriers in the Square yesterday afternoon irritating?

I'm all for freedom of speech, I'm all for expressing your opinion in public space, and believe me, I loathe the current administration. But can't you express your opinion without all the noise pollution within earshot of my house?

Maybe I'm just a grumpy old man, but in my day, we walked uphill both ways in the snow to impeach somebody! There was none of this hoity-toity honk-your-horn-inside-your-fancy-automobile nonsense!



So I emailed the mayor's office :

Apparently every Monday there's a group of protestors in Davis Square holding up signs that read "HONK TO IMPEACH!" I'm all for free speech and free expression, and I couldn't agree more with the protestors' message, but I can't help but feel they're just causing noise pollution in my neighborhood. (I live a very short walk from the Square.)

There's been a discussion on the Davis Square Livejournal community about this :
http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/949744.html

and so far no one has suggested these protestors are accomplishing anything but
irritating the people who live nearby.

I'm not suggesting the city take action to silence the protestors, because I strongly believe they have a right to express their opinion in public space, but I'm curious to know if
anyone from the city approached them about the noise pollution?


And got this in response :

I just read the posts. You are Philbot I gather. I also really liked the "uphill both ways to impeach" line.

Here is the issue with these particular protestors- they are not the ones actually making the noise. We could enforce a noise ordinance, but technically -they are not violating anything. And as you point out, we do not want to infringe upon anyone's right to freedom of speech or assembly. Therefore, a typical response to send an inspector out would not work.

It seems as though some of your fellow bloggers are going to speak to this traveling band of protesters. Monday is Davis Sq.,Friday on Mass Ave. I will ask the Law Department, but I am at a loss to determine a means to stop these protests. Maybe time (and a reduction in honking) will steal their thunder.

Regards,

Sean Murphy

Comments

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

hey, the Wal-Mart haters had to start *somewhere*.