Imagine if a Republican did this

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

The title of this article was the first thing that came to mind when I learned of a new measure in Boston that was passed by the City Council this week and supported by Mayor Michelle Wu. Like many other Democratic mayors, Wu has imposed harsh vaccine restrictions and mask mandates lasting considerably longer than those in many red states. These decisions have led to sustained protests by mandate opponents, with gatherings regularly taking place right outside of Wu’s home in the upscale Roslindale neighborhood of Boston. Apparently, Mayor Wu felt either “threatened” or “harassed” by the protests so she worked with the City Council to pass new restrictions on when and where such protests could take place. While she is expected to sign it promptly and succeed in getting the measure put on the books, it turned out to be very controversial, even among some members of her own party who said that set a dangerous precedent of infringing on free speech. But at least she’ll get a peaceful night’s sleep, right? (Boston Globe)

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Following months of near-daily antivaccination demonstrations outside the Roslindale home of Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston City Council on Wednesday adopted a controversial proposal to further restrict the hours when protesters may target private residences with their demonstrations.

The hotly debated measure was introduced by Wu, who has framed the consistent, early-morning ruckus as harassment, a feeling many of her neighbors in the usually quiet part of the city share. But critics of the new rules, including several who routinely picket outside the mayor’s home, say the restrictions would unfairly curb First Amendment rights.

The council approved the measure 9 to 4, with Frank Baker, Kendra Lara, Erin Murphy, and Julia Mejia opposing. Wu is expected to sign it in coming days, making it law.

This law isn’t actually a restriction on public protests, but rather a municipal noise ordinance. “Loud” protests fall into that category. The coming change will shrink the legal window for “loud protesting” to between the hours of 9 am and 9 pm. (You are currently able to make noise from 7 am to 11 pm.) The prohibition only applies to “residential areas,” conveniently enough for Mayor Wu. And it won’t prohibit protests that are “passing through” a residential area. It only applies to protests targeting individual residences.

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In other words, this measure was tailor-made to apply to the Mayor’s expensive home in a pricey neighborhood. Again… isn’t that just convenient?

But weren’t we previously assured that public, frequently rowdy displays protesting politicians with unpopular agendas are a sacred right and something to be encouraged by the progressive left? These are the same people who hunted down anyone even tangentially associated with the Trump administration and protested outside of their homes. They went even further accosting them in public restaurants and other businesses, seeking to drive them out of civil society and isolate them. That’s how the game is supposed to be played, right?

For a brief walk down memory lane, here’s a short video clip of liberal protesters chasing Ted Cruz out of a restaurant in 2018.

Those liberal demonstrators who upset the entire operation of the restaurant were cheered as heroes on the left. They were striking a blow for decency against evil conservatives.

But now the chickens are coming home to roost and they are roosting in front of the home of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on a daily (and nightly) basis. Will her Democratic colleagues take this opportunity to step back for a moment and reconsider how they whipped the progressive mobs up into a frenzy against anyone associated with the Bad Orange Man? Don’t get your hopes up. Hypocrisy seems to be the watchword for most of this crowd. Protests for we, but not for thee.

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John Stossel 12:00 AM | April 24, 2024
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