Protestors shut down I-93 near Boston

[NE2]

Then why is it OK for the Tea Party to block roads (as they have done)?

Because cows.

[spooky]

Then why is it OK for the Tea Party to block roads (as they have done)?

I missed something. who said it was OK for the Tea Party to block roads?

[bandit957]

Then why is it OK for the Tea Party to block roads (as they have done)?

I missed something. who said it was OK for the Tea Party to block roads?

55KRC, the Tea Party, and the right-wing media.

[Zeffy]

Guys, just a friendly reminder that if this topic degrades into a discussion about politics or any sort of flame war, it'll be locked. Thanks!

[Pete from Boston]

Boston City worker fired after protest.

From the Boston Herald-


Mayor Martin J. Walsh has fired a 25-year-old city youth worker after learning the Roxbury woman was among 11 protesters who chained themselves to 1,200-pound, concrete-filled barrels in Milton on Thursday, snarling morning rush-hour traffic and stalling at least two ambulances, the Herald has learned.

"As mayor, you have to make tough, difficult decisions. This is not a difficult decision,"  Walsh said. "This was not based on the fact of this woman protesting. It was based on the fact of putting the public safety of other people at risk."

I guess Walsh hates free speech. What a disappointment.

Any campaigners that are dismissive of the legitimate needs of the public outside the scope of the cause at issue will result in loss of the support of the public. 

Block ambulances, and you turn from champion of the weak to enemy of them. 

Free speech isn't deciding people must suffer to hear your point.

[bandit957]

Block ambulances, and you turn from champion of the weak to enemy of them.

It turns out that they didn't block any ambulances.

[Mr_Northside]

Then why is it OK for the Tea Party to block roads (as they have done)?

I missed something. who said it was OK for the Tea Party to block roads?

Also, were they also blocking interstates?  (This is not rhetorical, I don't really follow what the Tea Party does, so I don't know if it ever happened). 
I don't mind (too much) if there is some sort of protest/march/rally on local streets, or even other non-limited access facilities in the name of free speech.... But there is a major difference between protesting on the street in front of the courthouse/[gov't building]/whatever, and blocking an interstate - which does strike me as a public safety issue, and pretty stupid.

[hotdogPi]

Then why is it OK for the Tea Party to block roads (as they have done)?

I missed something. who said it was OK for the Tea Party to block roads?

Also, were they also blocking interstates?  (This is not rhetorical, I don't really follow what the Tea Party does, so I don't know if it ever happened). 
I don't mind (too much) if there is some sort of protest/march/rally on local streets, or even other non-limited access facilities in the name of free speech.... But there is a major difference between protesting on the street in front of the courthouse/[gov't building]/whatever, and blocking an interstate - which does strike me as a public safety issue, and pretty stupid.

George Washington Bridge (I-95 on the NY/NJ border).

[PHLBOS]

Very telling newsvideo.

[bandit957]

Very telling newsvideo.

This is a hit piece by WBZ-TV. The FCC used to take a very dim view of distorting the news like this.

[Pete from Boston]

Block ambulances, and you turn from champion of the weak to enemy of them.

It turns out that they didn't block any ambulances.

Sure, Good Samaritan's good enough.  Boston Medical's trauma unit is overrated. 

When you endanger people,"but no one died" is not a defense.

[hbelkins]

Then why is it OK for the Tea Party to block roads (as they have done)?

^{(citation needed)}

[ixnay]

Block ambulances, and you turn from champion of the weak to enemy of them.

It turns out that they didn't block any ambulances.

Are you talking about the ambulances being diverted per, for example, http://www.whdh.com/story/27861085/highway-protests-hinder-transport-of-easton-trauma-patient ?  Or were there no ambulances at all in the backup?

ixnay

[bandit957]

Then why is it OK for the Tea Party to block roads (as they have done)?

^{(citation needed)}

I saw it with my own two eyes.

[SidS1045]

Very telling newsvideo.

This is a hit piece by WBZ-TV. The FCC used to take a very dim view of distorting the news like this.

Asking questions of citizens engaged in protests on a public way is distortion?  Exactly what reality do you live in?

The reporter gave them every fair chance to explain their POV.  They refused.  Too bad they missed their chance...but that's not the reporter's or the station's fault.

[qguy]

Very telling newsvideo.

This is a hit piece by WBZ-TV. The FCC used to take a very dim view of distorting the news like this.

Yes, the FCC no longer gets to decide what speech or who's speech gets to be free.

[PHLBOS]

Then why is it OK for the Tea Party to block roads (as they have done)?

^{(citation needed)}

I saw it with my own two eyes.

Date & location?

If there was indeed a closure of a major highway due to a demonstration or rally (regardless of its cause or political perspective) taking place on the highway itself back then; chances are, there's probably a similar thread in the Regional Boards' archives that covered & discussed such.

OTOH, if you're referring to closures of local roads due to a rally, march or whatever taking place; the group(s) may have been obtained permit(s) from the municipality in advance to do such.  These permits are similar in nature to ones issued for block parties.

Had these I-93 demonstrators wanted to rally at Boston's City Hall, for example, and obtained the approved legal permits to close off certain roads for their demonstration/rally; there wouldn't be any discussion here and this thread would not have come to light outside of the Non-Roads section. 

However, since I-93 is a state-owned and operated highway; municipalities typically do not issue permits to close those highways for rallies or demonstrations.  The only non-construction/weather-related highway closure exceptions I'm aware of have been bridge closures for road races (5ks, NYC's Marathon, etc.); but, again, permits for those closures were obviously obtained well in advance and through the proper & legal channels.

[silverback1065]

These people blocking 93 look like idiots, they've completely lost their message by doing something like this.  This isnt going to get your message across, it will just piss people off trying to get to work, and in other cases makes people lose work for the day!

[bandit957]

Date & location?

Covington, KY. April 15, 2010. KY 8 was blocked for a significant time period.

[hbelkins]

Date & location?

Covington, KY. April 15, 2010. KY 8 was blocked for a significant time period.

You may wish to check and see if an encroachment permit was requested and granted for this. KYTC routinely grants permits for closures of state-maintained roads for such things as marches, parades, street festivals and such.

[cbeach40]

If you think Boston commuters are tough, you ain't seen nothin' until you've seen a Pats fan headed for Gillette Stadium.  They'll just run the protesters over.

Ya know, they'd probably be better able to avoid obstacles with their tires properly inflated.

[PHLBOS]

Date & location?

Covington, KY. April 15, 2010. KY 8 was blocked for a significant time period.

Looking at the Google-Earth aerial, KY 8 is not a limited-access highway like I-93 is for the Greater Boston area.  Had similar protesters tried to shut down say I-75 or I-471 in the area; the KY State Police (or Ohio State Police had such been done across the river) would've responded/reacted in a similar manner that the Mass State Police did.   

While KYTC does issue permits for closing a road like KY 8 for items that HB already mentioned; I don't believe they will issue permits to close I-75 or I-471 for any protest or demonstration group.

[SidS1045]

If you think Boston commuters are tough, you ain't seen nothin' until you've seen a Pats fan headed for Gillette Stadium.  They'll just run the protesters over.

Ya know, they'd probably be better able to avoid obstacles with their tires properly inflated.

(Sigh.)  It was just a matter of time.

Pats haters gonna hate.

[SidS1045]

...since I-93 is a state-owned and operated highway...

...and since it is limited-access, there are pictogram signs posted on all on-ramps (older text version here):

[Pete from Boston]

If you think Boston commuters are tough, you ain't seen nothin' until you've seen a Pats fan headed for Gillette Stadium.  They'll just run the protesters over.

Ya know, they'd probably be better able to avoid obstacles with their tires properly inflated.

The difference is that with tires, the effect of inflation in preventing a blowout isn't imaginary.