SPEECH: Don't stifle us

Managing public lands for the benefit of the American people is what Congress funds the National Park Service to do. That includes demonstrators just as much as tourists or hikers. While the park service may be strapped for funds, it cannot balance its budget on the backs of people seeking to exercise their constitutional rights.

The right to protest now in response to unfolding events is a key part of freedom of speech. Timeliness is essential to effective dissent. Delay may stifle protest as effectively as outright censorship. If my elected officials don’t like what people are saying they should be listening and bending to the will of the people, that was why they were elected. Freedom of speech is our right. We, the people, allow hate group protests because of this.

If Senators Risch and Crapo and Representative Labrador feel the people are being hateful to them, they should be solving the reason for their anger. Suppression of free speech is not the appropriate response.

CHERI ZAO

Coeur d’Alene