There is no doubt among rationally thinking people that Republicans are unable to face the truth. The leader of the Republican Party, Donald Trump, resorts to name calling and incites physical attacks when he faces legitimate criticism. Republicans failed to support protests by ‘Black Lives Matter,’ or ‘sit-ins’ by the ’99 percent.’ The party’s propaganda machine, FOX Noise, angrily criticized these protests.
This is not a new response by the right wing. Forty-seven years ago, then California Governor Ronald Reagan commanded the National Guard on My 15, 1969 to expel a peaceful protest at a Northern California University. The Guard descended upon a small park on the campus of University of California in Berkley intent upon dispersing a crowd of non-violent protestors, many of whom were students. The park was created by students in an unused area of the university, which had been earmarked for future development.
The soldiers were armed with rifles, bayonets attached, and began indiscriminately firing into the crowd of anti-war protestors. The attack became known as the ‘Battle for People’s Park.’ One person was killed, and dozens injured.
The protestors were demanding that the park remain and the university cease its plan to build a parking lot on the location.
Reagan revealed his disdain for what he called ‘liberal protestors’ in 1967.
“How far do we go in tolerating these people & this trash under the excuse of academic freedom & freedom of expression?” Governor Ronald Reagan.
The Chancellor of the university, Earl Cheit, stated that he did not expect violence between those occupying the park and the authorities who would attempt to remove them; Reagan did not share his belief. Reagan ordered law enforcement to use “whatever force is necessary” in the eviction of park inhabitants on May 15.
Labeled ‘bloody Thursday’ at the time, the Desert Sun newspaper described how Reagan “mobilized a ‘substantial number’ of Guardsmen and clamped a strict nighttime curfew on the city and campus.”
“At least 128 persons were injured in the conflict, including 32 hit by blasts of bird shot from police shotguns,” the paper reported.
This was not the first time an elected official denied first amendment rights to the American people, but it became famous because of the unnecessary and rash use of force against unarmed protestors.
The only amendment to the Constitution agreed upon by all those attending the convention in 1789 was the first. The guarantee of freedom of speech and the right to lawfully assemble in protest of grievances was considered paramount for a free society.
Those in power must not be allowed to place their personal opinions ahead of the law or the expression of ideas which are in opposition to their own. Without the expression and demands of the American people, our nation would be under British rule today. Freedom is not free if free speech is suppressed.
Republicans must accept ideas from the majority, and ignore those of special interests. The will of the people was important to our forefathers, and remains important today.
What will law enforcement do when thousands of protestors appear at the Republican Convention and Trump rallies during his campaign?
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 