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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKavanaugh Home Protest Criticized by Senators in Both Parties
More than 50 protesters walked from a Chevy Chase, Maryland park to Kavanuaghs house chanting slogans and bearing signs such as safe abortion is a human right and hey Kavanaugh resign now, Bethesda Magazine reported.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) similarly criticized protests targeting public figures homes.
We all know that you have to have a tough mental hide to be in this business, Durbin said. But it is absolutely unacceptable from my point of view to involve and major public figures family or their home, or to involve yourself in criminal trespass in the name of political freedom of speech.
There are proper venues to express yourself and I dont believe a persons home or their family should be fair game in this business, he added.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/kavanaugh-home-protest-criticized-by-senators-in-both-parties
malaise
(267,834 posts)condemned the Jan 6 failed coup yet?
Asking for a friend.
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)A case could make its way to their court.
malaise
(267,834 posts)The House already found him guilty.
I do get your point about a case coming to their court
luv2fly
(2,475 posts)But Kavanaugh isn't a decent person, he's a liar, predator, rapist, and public figure. Seems fair game so long as people follow the law.
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)Would you say that they were hoping to influence his decisions?
luv2fly
(2,475 posts)I doubt anyone thought they were going to change his opinion on anything.
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)But you seem to not want to answer the question. It seems pretty clear that they're hoping to influence his vote on future cases.
The group's statement in announcing the protest included:
Make no mistake, whats happening to reproductive justice and abortion rights is far bigger than one person. But Kavanaugh is playing a key role, and so far hes been protected from any backlash. No more, ... Brett Kavanaugh: Youre going to hear from us directly.
Think another court might find that to be attempting to influence him?
luv2fly
(2,475 posts)I said "I doubt anyone thought they were going to change his opinion on anything."
If they think otherwise, well, I think they're being foolish.
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)Up to $5k and a year fine in prison. https://www.ravellaw.com/statutes/us:usc:t18/us:usc:t18:s1507
And thus impact your "so long as people follow the law"
Klaralven
(7,510 posts)Has this ever been challenged in court?
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)There is clearly a constitutional right to protest, but there is also a compelling governmental interest in blocking protests at the homes of justices (particularly when the constitution intentionally insulates them from public opinion). So the remaining question is whether the law is "narrowly tailored" enough to survive court scrutiny. On its face, it appears to be the epitome of narrow tailoring... at least as it applies to their homes (perhaps not so much as it applies to the Supreme Court building in DC)...
... and since it would be justices making the final determination? My guess would be an easy 9-0 decision.
luv2fly
(2,475 posts)But I can neither interpret their intentions nor put myself in the shoes of those who might judge them.
I can only speak for myself, and while I have protested in my lifetime numerous times, I never believed it would change any one's opinion.
musette_sf
(10,184 posts)Yeah, Dick, well, we tried, but Boof Boy got confirmed despite our best efforts.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,369 posts)Mad_Machine76
(24,355 posts)Ya know this is why we struggle so much: when people on OUR side don't have our backs and attempt to discourage things like this. As long as it was a peaceful protest and people didn't physically confront anybody or damage property, it's protected speech/activity. End of line. Stigmatizing free speech like this is not something a proper Democrat should be doing. Hopefully, they retract their criticism.
Klaralven
(7,510 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Get it?
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Certain corners of the commentariat are all agog at Rep. Ocasio-Cortez attending the Met Gala last night, wondering who might have paid for her ticket (the price of which is for the benefit of the museum that puts on the gala). Did you ever find out how Justice Boof was able to afford season tickets for the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team? Or how the Honorable Mr. Justice Boof was able to pay off all his substantial credit card debt (a bit more than $35,000, if memory serves) just before his nomination? None of that money went to a non-profit charity, and the American people don't know any more about that than they did when Justice Boof appeared before your committee.
Now might be a real good opportunity to shut up more unless and until your committee recalls Justice Boof to explain the discrepancies in his sworn testimony and make him liable to impeachment.
Midnight Writer
(21,548 posts)Are we all OK with that?
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)Doubt youll get an answer.
TheRealNorth
(9,435 posts)But the MAGATs are doing it and are forcing local school board and election officials to retire.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Treefrog
(4,170 posts)And why do you follow me around so much? Its a bit odd.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Some people on our side don't really have a problem with Republican tactics ... As long as they're used to achieve OUR goals.
wryter2000
(46,016 posts)Your general point may be correct, but this comparison doesn't fly. Would you equate the anti-Vietnam war protesters or a civil rights march to the Proud Boys?
(I thought they were Bois, but I could be wrong about that.)
leftstreet
(36,081 posts)No comparison
FakeNoose
(32,356 posts)Next thing we know, Proud Boys and MAGAts will be showing up at the private residences of every Democratic Senator and Representative. And they like to carry weapons and God-knows-what-all.
TheRealNorth
(9,435 posts)Besides Gov. Whitmer, they have gone after elections and school board officials.
Since I have yet to see the police prosecute those people, I guess that intimidating people at their homes is now fair game.
ananda
(28,783 posts)I applaud their efforts!
themaguffin
(3,805 posts)onecaliberal
(32,489 posts)That is the question I want answered. Who paid off his 600,000 in debt?
wryter2000
(46,016 posts)That alone should get him off the Court.
KPN
(15,587 posts)If protesters were marching on Sotomayor's or Kagan's house? Hell no!
When are we going to stop appeasing? There's a difference between appeasing and being a statesman; between appeasing and leading.
Geezuz!
Takket
(21,425 posts)Politics belongs in political places. Not at people's personal homes.
If you don't like what city hall, or congress, or the white house, or SCOTUS, our your local police, or hobby lobby, or whatever else is doing... THAT is where you go protest.
I don't think anyone on DU would think this is appropriate:
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/12/06/protesters-jocelyn-bensons-home-after-dark-oppose-certification/3850654001/
A couple of dozen protesters gathered in front of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's home Saturday night shouting through megaphones against the certification of the election and demanding a forensic audit.
Jocelyn Benson
A portion of the demonstration was broadcast live on Facebook around 9:30 p.m. The protesters are seen walking up to Benson's Detroit home, some wearing President Donald Trump paraphernalia and carrying American flags.
"We are over here in the fricking dead of night, man," Genevieve Peters, who posted the live video, said as she walked to the house. "We are letting her know that we're not taking this bullshit election, we are not standing down, we are not giving up you are not going to take this election from a man that has earned it completely 100% by a freaking landslide. Let me tell you: This ain't over."
harumph
(1,871 posts)Democrats don't make any points by taking the "high road" whatever the fuck that is.
Republicans tried to stage an actual coup under the cover of bumpkins.
That was the inflection point - been coming for a number of years.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/11/15/its-insanity-how-brooks-brothers-riot-killed-recount-miami/
Believe me, I'd rather live in your world - but I can't afford it.
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)And thus is not fair game.
Backseat Driver
(4,339 posts)privacy of TX women now, indeed American women later, married, single, or of any other status, and while escaping the reality of their and their child's consequences when unwanted, horrifically disabled, or the fruit of rape and incest in those family homes - whatever reason a woman has to chose to not bear a child of her own body is hers, no? It is perhaps social media, a lower court, public streets but not near the family/home of one Justice, a beer-swilling, douchebag, smartass, Justice. I feel for his fundie brainwashed, unprotected wife and daughters, but they don't live in TX - do they? Is it the hall of the SCOTUS who took the trouble to confirm their lack of action, doing nothing, to refute this signatory BS of a state over accepted precedent of federal rights in a GOP governed TX who can't even keep the lights on to prevent seeable "fooling around" in their grid? You betcha! Do it with the lights off??? Guys, make your own heat? Eliminate rapists, et al? Shoot 'em dead? Hahahahaha...that lack of planning killed lots of the already born, but IOKIYAR? It sure takes all kinds, heh - The Good, the Bad, and the gosh-darn vicious, EVIL UGLY GOP!
History reveals few of any gender or orientation who can so strongly discipline themselves to deny themselves a hard-wired desire for pleasurable adult experiences they prefer and expressions of a core human function and process to express love, of which there is precious little enough...SMH...
Apologies to whatever else people believe just and moral without any religion.
MOMFUDSKI
(5,206 posts)We're just getting started . . . .