Assemble in peace
It’s one thing to take to the streets to demonstrate strong anti-war sentiments. It’s quite another to engage in criminal uprisings. The “peace” demonstrators who became so unruly and so disruptive this week that hundreds were arrested are clearly doing their cause much harm. If violence is not the answer for settling conflicts between nations then surely it has no place in promoting a political message meant to persuade others that diplomacy rather than weapons is the righteous path to peace. It is as ludicrous as an anti-abortionist gunning down patrons of Planned Parenthood clinics to advance the cause that killing unborn babies is morally wrong. Passion for a cause is no excuse. America was founded on protests. The right to speak freely, petition the government and wage demonstrations are guaranteed by law. The right to disagree with the government and to “peaceably assemble” to promote contrary messages is protected. But nowhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights is the right to riot mentioned.