Protesting as a Way of Exercising Freedoms of Speech and Expression

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main Body
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Nations have developed from primitive dictatorship to democratic institutions that respect human rights by ensuring justice and equality are guaranteed to all citizens. This has enabled people to express their dissatisfactions through public forums like debates, referendums and protests. These are modern ways of communicating to the government that people are dissatisfied with a policy, institution or individual. However, sometimes these rights may be restricted due to reasons that justify their classification as threats to national security (Anderson 2010). This discussion addresses and accounts for various issues involved in protesting as a way of exercising freedoms of speech and expression.

The case study describes a situation where a militia group has been granted a protest permit. In addition, other opposing groups have notified the City Hall and Police Department that they will participate. This will result in a crisis and thus must be managed before it escalates into conflicts between these two groups. The Mayor has asked for a comprehensive plan of action that will ensure the Police Department and City Hall are not affected by the protests.

Main Body

This situation is not easy to manage due to the complexity of the issues and parties involved. These parties must be treated ethically to ensure they are allowed to exercise their freedoms and rights of expression and speech. The Chief of Police must ensure that his troop handles all demonstrators as citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights. They must not interfere with any of their activities if they obey and maintain law and order (Drury 2013). Therefore, they should act only when the protesters break the laws or if there are fears that their actions may disrupt other activities in the city. The police will ensure all parties are allowed to hold separate demonstrations provided they maintain peace and respect the law.

Secondly, the criminal and civil law and statues will apply equally to all protestors, and nobody will be allowed to break any of the provisions above. The protestors were given permits to hold demonstrations, and this means that they signed and agreed to hold peaceful, orderly and lawful protests as stipulated by the law. First, the militia group must ensure their demonstration does not involve more than 350 members as agreed earlier. In addition, they should hold their demonstrations in public places and avoid intruding into private property (Drury 2013).

Thirdly, it is important for them to ensure they refrain from using abusive or discriminatory language that may infringe on the rights of the public or any institution. Moreover, protestors must exercise their freedom and right of assembling and protesting within the time allocated to them. Any party that will violate any of the legal requirements above will be punished according to the stipulations of the criminal and civil law and statutes.

The Rational Choice Theory developed by William Glasser explains that a criminal will commit a crime to satisfy his greed, anger, revenge, or jealousy (Bursik 2012). Protestors may be motivated by these personal interests to commit crimes; however, legal sanctions against criminal activities will ensure these protestors behave in a peaceful way.

The Psychodynamic Trait Theory advanced by Sigmund Feud explains that people have three regulators that control their behavior, and they include, emotions, self and reason (Anderson 2010). A crowd is usually controlled by emotions, and Feud explains that the average thinking capacity of a crowd is equal to that of the stupidest person in that crowd; therefore, this makes demonstrators to be prone to criminal activities.

The Police Department has been criticized for mishandling protesters by using excess force to disperse them. However, it is necessary to ensure that the public and property are kept safe from demonstrators by using the necessary force required to control the behavior of a crowd (Akers 2009). Therefore, the actions of the Police Department will be determined by how the crowd behaves. However, this department will be very careful in monitoring the behavior of the protestors and engaging in dialogue to solve issues that may lead to conflicts.

The police supervisory and command staff will work together with the Chief of Police to ensure that the Police Department keeps the crowd under control by meeting with their organizers and demanding that they advise their followers to follow all the rules that have been highlighted in the protest permit (Drury 2013). In addition, there will be adequate consultations before issuing orders in case the crowd starts to behave badly.

The Police Department is equipped with modern technology equipment to combat crowd behavior if it turns unruly. First, this department will use barricades to ensure protestors do not trespass into private property and unauthorized areas. Secondly, there will be pepper sprays, teargas and rubber bullets to control those who engage in criminal activities (Bursik 2012). Lastly, there are security cameras installed in various places within the city to record all events and people involved in them. These cameras have identification features that will identify people who will commit crimes.

Conclusion

The police department plays vital roles in controlling protests and ensuring they abide by the laws and regulations established in different regions. Protestors must hold peaceful demonstrations when expressing their views since other people also have rights that must be respected.

References

Akers, R. (2009). Social Learning and Social Structure: A General Theory of Crime and Deviance. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.

Anderson, E. (2010). Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City. New York: W. W. Norton and Company.

Bursik, R. (2012). Neighborhoods and Crime: The Dimensions of Effective Community Control. Maryland: Lexington Books.

Drury, J. (2013). Crowds in the 21st Century: Perspectives from Contemporary Social Science. London: Routledge.

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Protesting as a Way of Exercising Freedoms of Speech and Expression

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