EDITORIAL: Blocking traffic no way to win friends, influence people
Apr. 19—Pro-Palestinian protesters made their presence felt in Chicago — and elsewhere across the country — Monday when they blocked traffic in and out of O'Hare International Airport.
What was described as a "heavy traffic snarl" forced some motorists to get out of their vehicles and walk to the airport.
Suffice it to say, the protesters achieved exactly what they wanted — a well-publicized assault on ordinary Americans.
They will not, however, achieve their stated goal — "an economic blockade to free Palestine" — because their ultimate goal has little to do with their performance-act actions.
These protesters can refer to President Joe Biden as "Genocide Joe" as often as they want. But just as Hamas' original Oct. 7 attack on Israel was out of Biden's hands, so, too, is Israel's decision to defend itself vigorously against its attackers.
There is another issue that also has eluded many people, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
These protests are not an example of free speech. They reflect criminal behavior. It's not even clear that they could be accurately described as "civil disobedience" because that must be nonviolent to be considered "civil."
Under the concept of civil disobedience, those who engage in illegal behavior must accept — and expect — that they will be required to pay a price for their misconduct.
It's not clear this is happening, and that's the responsibility of public officials like Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
She is notoriously reluctant to enforce the law, while he, like many leftists, has made no secret of his hostility toward Israel's actions in Gaza.
News reports indicate roughly 40 people were taken into custody by police. Will they be prosecuted for their actions or merely released with a wrist slap?
Based on the frequency of these kind of events, it seems clear the lawbreakers believe they can act with impunity.
That's why the governor's comments are concerning. He told reporters that he supports people's choice to "express their First Amendment rights and protest," but not their tactics.
"I do not think that they should be disruptive of the traffic of people trying to get from one place or to another. I think they can have their voices heard and let people move along their day," he said, while emphasizing the importance of law enforcement being "respectful of those protests."
Blocking traffic is not, according to Illinois law, legitimate protest that police — or anyone else — must respect. It's criminal behavior that must quickly ended.
The U.S. Constitution enthusiastically embraces free speech and protest marches. But there are "time, place and manner restrictions" that go hand in hand with public displays most Americans perceive as reflecting an open marketplace of ideas.
This kind of misconduct should be addressed for exactly what it is, not given a pass for what it is not.
