Coates letter: Freedom of speech
In regards to the recent tragic events in Charlottesville, Va., that cost the life of a young woman I demand to know this, “Where were the cops when they were needed most?” It is absolutely inexcusable they abandoned the streets to two opposing hate groups heavily armed even with assault-style weapons while law enforcement stood back and watched a virtual war unfold in the streets like it was wrestlemania. The liberal progressive Democrat Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Mayor Michael Signer, state and city police chiefs all have blood on their hands. They should have kept the two sides apart and made arrests of any miscreants resorting to violence.
Folks, here are the facts. Freedom of speech is a two-way street and you cannot cherry pick. If you allow one side such as Black Lives Matter and AntiFa (anti-fascist) to be heard, then you must extend the same right to the other side no matter how vile, disgusting and repugnant they may be, such as white supremacists, neo-Nazis and the KKK; otherwise free speech and democracy is dead.
Duane A. Coates, Meridian
This story was originally published August 22, 2017 at 3:46 PM with the headline "Coates letter: Freedom of speech."