a good guide is, “does this ‘freedom’ enable me to infringe on the freedoms of others?”
typically, in a rational society, that’s where the line is drawn.
for example:
you have freedom of speech, but not the freedom to use that speech to, say, incite a riot
you have the freedom to own a firearm, but not the freedom to murder someone with it
you have the freedom to travel, but the means of that travel are often regulated (eg; operating a motor vehicle requires one be licensed and insured, and the vehicle be registered, etc).
Normally I’d use the aphorism about the right to swing my fist ends where your nose begins here in order to agree with you, but it was used in so many pro-prohibition arguments that I’m no longer comfortable doing it. Authoritarians will use pro liberty arguments to advance their agendas.
That’s why official protests have to be permitted. If you don’t have an official permit for protest, that protest can be designated as unlawful and disbanded.
Depends on where you live. The laws for that do differ quite a bit. In Germany for example, spontaneous protests can be announced to any nearby police officer and immediately become lawful by doing so. In other countries you just need to fill some form, in even other countries its a long and tedious process, etc
It makes for funny interactions in my experience. Bunch of people coordinate to gather in some park, but dont actually technically start any protest or block the street. Then when the cops arrive or just happen to come by (often they already know because they look at public social media) someone walks up to them saying “I hereby declare the forming of a protest” and then we just start. Most experienced officers know thats how it works, but sometimes newbies get all confused and call their superiors.
a good guide is, “does this ‘freedom’ enable me to infringe on the freedoms of others?”
typically, in a rational society, that’s where the line is drawn.
for example:
Normally I’d use the aphorism about the right to swing my fist ends where your nose begins here in order to agree with you, but it was used in so many pro-prohibition arguments that I’m no longer comfortable doing it. Authoritarians will use pro liberty arguments to advance their agendas.
My agreement stands, however.
And then we have the exception to that rule: Protests
Protests are technically restricting other peoples freedoms but we weigh the cost of banning them and see that its sort of a necessary evil.
That’s why official protests have to be permitted. If you don’t have an official permit for protest, that protest can be designated as unlawful and disbanded.
Depends on where you live. The laws for that do differ quite a bit. In Germany for example, spontaneous protests can be announced to any nearby police officer and immediately become lawful by doing so. In other countries you just need to fill some form, in even other countries its a long and tedious process, etc
Just by telling a nearby cop, you say?
Fascinating…
It makes for funny interactions in my experience. Bunch of people coordinate to gather in some park, but dont actually technically start any protest or block the street. Then when the cops arrive or just happen to come by (often they already know because they look at public social media) someone walks up to them saying “I hereby declare the forming of a protest” and then we just start. Most experienced officers know thats how it works, but sometimes newbies get all confused and call their superiors.