Permission to Protest?

[Jay Bee]

This policy may in fact help promote free speech.

[jesmu84]

This policy may in fact help promote free speech.

Why do you say that?

[Jay Bee]

Why do you say that?

When appropriately used, it can be used to stop jaga$$es who seek to protest for the purpose of shutting down the free speech of others.

[Jockey]

My daughter recently started at Purdue.  Reading up on things, I've been pretty impressed with their commitment to protecting free speech and public discourse (and yes, I'm aware that it's public and has some different rules that apply).  It was hilarious on Facebook last week when some parents realized that their children were being exposed to a very harsh and vocal preacher on campus.  People were literally disappointed that the campus police weren't hauling the preacher away.  Several expressed extreme concern for their kids' safety (because they equated him calling girls whores and saying their skimpy clothes meant they wanted to be raped with an actual threat of rape).  The thread was disturbing.

I kept quiet, but I couldn't help thinking that the kids' classmates almost certainly posed far more danger to them than some preacher.


The guy reminded me of the "God-mobile" from back in the day.

Not quite sure what the preacher was doing and where....  but if he is publicly - on campus - calling girls whores, he should be arrested.

[StillAWarrior]

Not quite sure what the preacher was doing and where....  but if he is publicly - on campus - calling girls whores, he should be arrested.

On what ground?

[Pakuni]

On what ground?

Depending on state law, it's quite possibly a crime.
In Wisconsin, for example, a person is guilty of disorderly conduct if he/she "in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance."

I would guess many young women would be disturbed or provoked by being called a whore by a strange man in public, and would consider that abusive, indecent and profane.

[rocket surgeon]

Not quite sure what the preacher was doing and where....  but if he is publicly - on campus - calling girls whores, he should be arrested.

classic shutting down free speech-if ya don't know what he was doing or saying, best ya find out before ya advocate for his arrest

[rocket surgeon]

i do not understand how or why "demonstrations" are allowed by people concealing their identity.  i can't walk in to a bank or many other businesses like that.  can't walk thru airport security, etc etc

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Perfectly fine, what does a private institution "limiting" protests on private property do to impinge on the students right to protest their government. The first amendment prevents the government from limiting speech in anyway.....that has nothing to do with a private entity "limiting" speech on private land.

If Marquette were to discipline a student for going to Madison to protest in the capital.....that's an infringement of that students first amendment right(though it's somewhat tenuous because that depends on MU getting funding from the government)

If Marquette were to discipline a student for violating it's policy on protest on MU property that has no infringement concerns.


I'm all for open dialog on campus and providing as much opportunity for voices to be heard, but we can't do so by hiding behind the first amendment.....it has no bearing on this concern.

Oh I agree,  I was just answering your question about the link between free speech and private institutions

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Not quite sure what the preacher was doing and where....  but if he is publicly - on campus - calling girls whores, he should be arrested.

No he shouldn't. Other people should call him out,  shout him down,  or try to have an educational conversation with him,  but not arrest him. You cant arrest someone just because you don't like their speech. The best way to fight hateful speech is with more speech

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

i do not understand how or why "demonstrations" are allowed by people concealing their identity.  i can't walk in to a bank or many other businesses like that.  can't walk thru airport security, etc etc

But you can walk in a public space like that.... which is where people have a right to protest.

You should take your own advice on this

classic shutting down free speech-if ya don't know what he was doing or saying, best ya find out before ya advocate for his arrest

[rocket surgeon]

But you can walk in a public space like that.... which is where people have a right to protest.

You should take your own advice on this

i didn't say arrest him or shut it down tamu-i said i do not understand it

[MU82]

Interesting thread. I appreciate the different viewpoints.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Depending on state law, it's quite possibly a crime.
In Wisconsin, for example, a person is guilty of disorderly conduct if he/she "in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance."

I would guess many young women would be disturbed or provoked by being called a whore by a strange man in public, and would consider that abusive, indecent and profane.

I don't know anywhere where a preacher calling women whores from his soapbox would rise to the level required for arrest

[rocket surgeon]

But you can walk in a public space like that.... which is where people have a right to protest.

You should take your own advice on this

but i do know what they are saying and protesting.  if i wanted to address them with free speech on my part, i better have a body guard or three though  i've seen what happens to people who disagree with them

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

i didn't say arrest him or shut it down tamu-i said i do not understand it

You said "you don't understand how it is allowed". Unless you literally don't understand the logistics of how someone gets permission to protest while concealing their identity (the answer is to be alive in America), it sounds like you are suggesting that protesting while concealing your identity shouldn't be allowed (in other words, shutting down a form of free speech)

[StillAWarrior]

Depending on state law, it's quite possibly a crime.
In Wisconsin, for mexample, a person is guilty of disorderly conduct if "in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance."

I would guess many young women would find being called a whore by a strange man in public as abusive, indecent and profane.

 is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

And, depending on the application and enforcement, it's quite possibly unconstitutional.  I strongly suspect that the police could not arrest a street preacher under that statute for "speech only" issues.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

but i do know what they are saying and protesting.  if i wanted to address them with free speech on my part, i better have a body guard or three though  i've seen what happens to people who disagree with them

Im confused, who do you know is saying and protesting what?  Who's them in this situation?

[Pakuni]

And, depending on the application and enforcement, it's quite possibly unconstitutional.  I strongly suspect that the police could not arrest a street preacher under that statute for "speech only" issues.

Are you suggesting that a person can't be arrested for speech considered "disturbing or provoking?"

[StillAWarrior]

Are you suggesting that a person can't be arrested for speech considered "disturbing or provoking?"

No.

Edited to add:  I'm suggesting a street preacher almost certainly can't be arrested for doing their typical schtick which, sadly and disgustingly, often involves calling women whores.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Are you suggesting that a person can't be arrested for speech considered "disturbing or provoking?"

Can't? No. But the threshold is very very high. Calling someone or even multiple someones a whore. Not going to cut it anywhere I know.

[rocket surgeon]

You said "you don't understand how it is allowed". Unless you literally don't understand the logistics of how someone gets permission to protest while concealing their identity (the answer is to be alive in America), it sounds like you are suggesting that protesting while concealing your identity shouldn't be allowed (in other words, shutting down a form of free speech)

ya see tamu, this is where you get yourself into trouble-"it SOUNDS like"

  i truly do not understand it or get it, but once again, i did not say shut them down.  i may not like it, but i didn't say shut them down, i may think it's wrong to conceal ones identity during a protest, but i did not say shut it down

you are confused?  i think you know very well who/what i'm referring to.  i want this thread to make it beyond 4 pm eastern standard

[Benny B]

I believe the majority of people that were killed at Jackson State and Kent State weren't even onlookers/gawkers, they were literally just walking by to get to class/work/home.

And you would be wrong.

[Pakuni]

Can't? No. But the threshold is very very high. Calling someone or even multiple someones a whore. Not going to cut it anywhere I know.

https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/jun/17/street-preachers-arrested-tennessee-accused-calling-people-sinners/310071/

https://marioncountymessenger.com/2016/09/jury-finds-jasper-man-guilty-of-inciting-a-riot-at-lee-highway-memorial/

To be clear, I'm not suggesting an arrest should or shouldn't happen. But it was asked "on what grounds" could a person be arrested in that circumstance. This is the answer.

[Galway Eagle]

Why are we focusing on the calling people whores? It was stated that he actually threatened rape and my understanding is that is more than enough to warrant an arrest.