OPINION: A living petition

Marching in the streets has a long history in American Democracy.

In 1791, The First Amendment was ratified, guaranteeing “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

In our nation's earliest years, Americans exercised this right in efforts to abolish slavery, strike down the sedition act and more. 

In 1913, when women could vote in only 13 states, the suffragist Alice Paul led women wearing white dresses through Washington, D.C. Six years later, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified.

In the 1960s, led by Dr. Martin Luther King and others, hundreds of thousands of Americans marched for civil rights and peace. Eventually, voting rights were secured and state-sanctioned segregation in businesses was ended.

Peacefully marching in the streets is a constitutionally guaranteed form of free speech. It has been described as a “living petition,” an animated declaration or an appeal to authority.

It is also a measure of last resort. 

When nothing else works, or when elected officials won’t respond to cards, letters and phone calls, citizens march.

Peaceful marching is not a temper tantrum. It is much more than a simple act of frustration. It is a well thought out, public and highly visible display of concern, seriousness and objection. It is a patriotic act in a time of desperation.

People do not resort to demonstrations until they have no other choice. The wise framers of our Constitution drafted a peaceful and orderly framework for the redress of grievances. Checks and balances maintained order.

Unfortunately, today the United States is experiencing a Constitutional crisis. 

The president, elected with a slim majority, is surrounded by an impotent Congress. He ignores judicial rulings, due process and basic election law. There are no checks on his power. 

Idaho’s governor ignores the will of the vast majority of Idahoans to sign into law a costly system of school vouchers. More than 32,000 people called asking Gov. Little to veto this financially trackless bill. About 5,000 people asked him to sign it. 

Letters to legislators are ignored and town halls canceled. 

Unidentified men, posing as private security, forcibly evict a woman from a public town hall.

All of this leads many to believe we are now at a point where demonstrations are needed. 

I am old enough to recall that marching in the 1960s brought together Americans from all parts of society, not just the Democrats or the Republicans. Labor unions, veterans, peace activists, civil rights organizers, religious leaders, politicians and more joined forces to send a message.

We called on our government to pursue justice and peace as only our government could.

Marching in the streets sent that message.

Marching in the streets builds camaraderie and a more perfect union because it gets us off our computers and phones.

It makes us realize that when the times call for it, we can all move in the same direction at roughly the same speed.

It is a “living petition,” an animated declaration or appeal to authority.

This coming Saturday, April 5, America will witness the first “Hands Off” marches. Organized by a national coalition of dozens of different organizations, these marches are planned in more than 900 cities and towns across America. 

A core principle behind Hands Off is a commitment to nonviolent action. Anyone joining must seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree.

In what is surely to be repeated many times, Americans will march in cities and towns to send the clear message: “Hands Off” our Social Security. Hands Off our Medicaid and Medicare, Hands Off our voting rights.

For more information, visit https://handsoff2025.com/about.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.