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Good morning! I’m getting behind again in my newsletters, but session will do that to a guy. The important thing is I’m getting one out today!
Wednesday was one of the more eventful days at the Capitol during the legislative session this year. At noon there was a protest outside of Leftists. I would guess about 200-300 people were there for the event outside on a day that was pretty cold.
Shortly after, about 50 of them came into the Capitol. They seemed intent to disrupt the Moms 4 Liberty afternoon legislative day. They sat in the middle of the rotunda, which had been reserved by Moms 4 Liberty. They performed various chants, some of which were expletive-laced.
Before speakers were scheduled to begin for the event, the protesters were moved away from the middle of the rotunda and more into the hallway. They continued to disrupt with their chants. They booed the prayer. They booed the Pledge of Allegiance. They booed mention of the Founders.
Eventually, they took it too far and a handful were handcuffed and arrested. The rest were escorted down the hall and out of the building.
You can watch video of the moment protesters were handcuffed here. This video shows law enforcement moving the protesters from the middle of the rotunda toward the hallway. You can hear the “(f-word) Kim Reynolds” chant here.
Now, first and foremost, I’m probably not the target audience of the protesters. Their goal wasn’t likely to change the minds of people like me.
But it begs the question — what was the goal?
Even Keenan Crow, lobbyist for OneIowa (an LGBTQ organization) — was quick to tell Republican representatives he had nothing to do with the disruption and disassociated himself quickly from it.
For anyone undecided on their own politics, it’s unlikely what was demonstrated in the Capitol would turn them “Blue.” In fact, as Rep. Skyler Wheeler pointed out, it is exactly that kind of behavior that has helped Republicans turn Iowa “Red” and delivered overwhelming majorities in both the Iowa House and Iowa Senate.
Listen, I understand their frustration and their desire to stand up for what they think is right. But I have never seen a Leftist group show up at the Capitol to hold an event only to have Republicans attempt to drown them out with chanting and cussing and other activities.
The folks who claim to be all above “love, tolerance and diversity” didn’t appear interested in any of it on Wednesday.
Their behavior leads to more questions. Do they really believe they are achieving something positive for their movement? Do they really think they are doing damage to Moms 4 Liberty by demonstrating like this? Do they really expect to win elections based on their actions?
Perhaps another question that needs to be asked is do they even want to win elections?
I understand disagreeing with people on politics, but I don’t understand the desire or the need to try to completely shut down someone else’s political speech.
However, in the six or seven years I’ve been going to Des Moines, it is safe to say this is getting worse.
Last year transactivists would yell, shout, cuss and scream to try to keep supporters of bills they considered “anti-trans” from testifying in subcommittee or at a public hearing. They’d bang on the doors. They’d do anything they could to disrupt.
I don’t anticipate that changing this year. In fact, because they were allowed to get away with it last year, I imagine their behavior will only intensify.
While individuals have a right to protest and assemble and speak in the Capitol, they do not have a right to interfer with an official proceeding. There are undoubtedly rules for decorum inside the Capitol.
I know this because a State Patrol Officer told me last year when all this was happening but nothing was being done.
I hope the people who work in the House and the Senate and are responsible for the function of the Capitol and Legislature are ready to enforce such rules.
People invest time, money and effort to make it to the Capitol to speak at subcommittees and public hearings. They deserve to be heard. They should not be drowned out by people who are there to simply cause chaos.
Yes, they have a right to speak. But so too do the individuals who show up to speak on the other side of an issue.
The Capitol should be a place where people can go and be heard and voice their frustrations, but it should be a place where that is done in a manner that allows everyone to have their voice heard.
I honestly hope the folks on the other side who created the scene on Wednesday take time to honestly reflect on their strategy and their goal. If they really want to see the things they believe in furthered in Iowa, acting that way isn’t going to make it happen. I offer that as advice and recognize they may not care what my advice is.
When the Baphomet Statue was put up in the Capitol by the atheists two years ago, I pointed out the contrast between the dark, almost hopeless-looking display from the atheists and the Nativity Scene that was in the middle of the rotunda.
I wrote then that anyone who was fair-minded wasn’t going to go along with the dark, hopeless-looking display by the atheists and would naturally be drawn to the beauty of the Nativity Scene.
Wednesday was another example. No fair-minded person who isn’t on the extreme Left already is going to be converted by the actions of the Leftists. Not when the alternative was calm, reasonable people standing up for parental rights and children. All while having a smile on their face despite being yelled at, cussed at and being mocked and ridiculed.
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