Flowers’ argument is neither reasoned nor patriotic

To the Times:

I recently noticed Christine Flowers’ article, “Protest or riot?” which ran in syndication in my hometown paper. In it she asserts that the new law passed in Florida, “is designed to prevent the type of demonstrations seen over the past few years in cities like Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, Baltimore, Ferguson and Philadelphia.”

In reality, it is designed to dissuade free speech and peaceable assembly, both of which are constitutional rights. While no one would condone violent action, property damage, or arson, one can’t ignore the fact that a few bad apples can take a peaceful protest and escalate it to a riot in short order. Her claim that “If you are a peaceful protester, you will not find yourself involved with rioters,” is hopelessly naive. Free speech and the right to peaceably assemble must be preserved, defending attacks against it is neither a reasoned nor a patriotic position.