Letter to the Editor

The anatomy of a peaceful protest

Peaceful protest is not silence. It is loud and intentional, but it is also respectful. It does not harm people, destroy property or block public roads.

On Friday, Sept. 5, in front of the Woodford Inn, we held a peaceful protest. This was not Jan. 6, when a mob stormed the Capitol, beating police and smashing windows. This was a group of neighbors exercising our First Amendment rights responsibly.

The police were notified in advance, and a single patrol car observed the entire time. Officers never had to intervene. There were no sirens, no guns, no threats—only voices chanting. The only name mentioned was Andy Barr, who was scheduled to speak, but did not attend. 

Cars honked in support; some drivers expressed disapproval. We welcomed conversations with pedestrians and visitors to the Inn. We treated each conversation respectfully and thanked a neighbor who brought us water. Before leaving, we carried our signs away and picked up litter others had left behind. We stayed on the sidewalk, careful to respect both private property and public space.

We threatened no one. We destroyed nothing. We left before dark. That is the definition of a peaceful protest.

Some may not agree with our message, but disagreement does not erase our rights. We were harmless—we were patriots exercising the freedoms our Constitution guarantees. The tragic death of Mr. Kirk does not override those rights. Protest, at its best, is not about hostility but about calling attention to concerns that deserve to be heard. Community leaders should treat these moments not as disruptions, but as opportunities to listen and engage.

On one point, though, there is broad agreement: enough. Enough of the hatred that pours daily out of the White House. Enough of the division that has fueled political violence across the spectrum—from the killing of Republican Charlie Kirk, to the murder of Democrat Melissa Hortman, to the brutal hammer attack on Paul Pelosi. Enough.

The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the First Amendment. On that Friday night, we exercised it fully—and we will continue to do so as long as democracy feels endangered. The fact that our voices were noticed means the protest served its purpose. That is how democracy works.

Karen Isberg 

Versailles