Many protestors gathered and blocked highway I-93 on Thursday during rush hour. Some 30 protestors were arrested and removed from the highway.
The activists said they were out to promote the end of racism.
Rep. Colleen Garry has filed legislation that proposes making it a felony to block highways. The Dracut Democrat told The Lowell Sun that everyone has a right to protest, but she was outraged by the recklessness of Thursday’s action.
Freedom to peacefully assemble is one of our most treasured rights as Americans, but I want to ask readers where is the line drawn from peaceful to dangerous?
Protesting on the streets and highways is not only dangerous to those out on the roads, but to drivers who may swerve or stop suddenly to miss a protestor, causing an injury or worse.
Again, the question is raised what do we do to prevent this situation entirely?
We can start looking at institutional racism in various forms and work out the ways to eliminate it. This can begin with police brutality.
To have a more diverse police force is one way to begin this, as well as demilitarizing the police and working better to build a stronger relationship between police and the community they serve.
Reviewing sensitivity tests, decreasing military-like weapons and better training are all good starts. There is a huge problem in America nationwide with law enforcement not properly carrying out their job and there is racism everywhere.
It is in school systems. It is in our language. It is in the workplace. It is everywhere.
I want to speak directly to readers and find out where they have encountered racism or sexism, or any other prejudices they would like to speak out against. I also want to hear about solutions that are easy to make beyond education.
Racism lives in your community – it has yet to be eliminated.
The people who are standing bravely on the highways are out there to get your attention so they can come back home, so they can feel protected and not like they are standing in the middle of a highway as violence and institutionalized racism thrives.
Protestors are out there for their community, and yours. Bring them inside and make changes that are significant for those living today, and generations from now.
I am convinced that these changes will make a better, smarter, safer America. Protestors do not care if they are taken away, if they are arrested and arraigned, they are out there with those expectations because we do not truly value free speech as it exists. Freedom of speech is not reserved for speech that we like to hear, but for the speech we don’t.
I implore these protestors and encourage their strength to withstand the cold and dangerous situations. This is democracy in action, nothing will be given, and everything must be fought for.
Until we see this change, there will be protestors blocking the roads and filling the streets, because to them, life is just as dangerous if they do not.
Erika Hayden is a WSU student, citizen journalist and grassroots writer.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
