Dear Editor:

I participate in the peaceful protests in local towns. In general, the protests have been quiet, friendly, and neighborly, with honks and waves of support from drivers passing by, and the very occasional negative downturned thumb or angry shout. 

Lately however, there have been a couple angry young men disrupting the events. They absolutely have the right to their opinion, but to get it across, they use a megaphone to scream obscenities and insult people. They use an amplifier to play loud music with inappropriate lyrics and lay a BIPOC/Gay Pride flag on the ground and walk all over it. This is all within their First Amendment rights, but what they may not understand is that they are just perpetrating the stereotype of MAGA followers with their crude, ignorant, and socially unacceptable behavior. 

To those of you who engage with these young men, please don’t! They revel in it as they record these events for their blog page or website in order to get more views. Move away if it is hard not to react to their behavior. Don’t give them any attention until they are ready to engage in civil discourse. We will gladly engage in a civil dialogue with them, if they stop blaring their hatefulness all over the street. Protest the actions of our government peacefully, as we have been doing for a year now. Eventually, justice will prevail for our nation and the world.

Sherry Lyons

Alna