The Power of Nonviolent Protest : Any side that works to provoke ugliness winds up forfeiting public sympathy

As well they should, gays and lesbians feel extremely strongly about Gov. Pete Wilson’s recent veto of legislation to add homosexuals to those protected classes in state anti-discrimination employment law. They detest the veto of AB 101, and they have carried their protest campaign into the streets, launching demonstrations when the governor shows up for a scheduled address or appearance. Tonight just such a protest is planned. The place is Woodland Hills, where Wilson is planning to attend a 75th birthday party for redoubtable State Sen. Ed Davis.

The fear is that the demonstration will get out of hand--either because the protests will successfully provoke a police reaction, or because the police will come down on gays with excessive force. Anyone that works to create such ugliness is making a mistake.

It’s possible that some protesters believe that the more dramatic the headlines, the more attention they draw to their cause. Is it also conceivable that some police--not many, much less all; and not the responsible leaders, of course--are hoping for a good solid provocation? Some gays charged police brutality, for instance, in the Century City protest last month.

Both sides are responsible for what happens tonight. The police must not allow themselves to be goaded into overreaction, and protesters must conduct their demonstration with dignity and maturity. Leaders who wish for things to get out of hand must be denounced by their membership.

Public protests spring from deep frustration, anger and hurt; when they are most effective they put a spotlight on an issue or an injustice in order to sway public opinion. Protests do not assure wider acceptance and understanding and, poorly handled, can undermine public support. Nevertheless, the right to protest is Constitutionally guaranteed.

So the job of the police is to manage protest--keep it from going out of bounds--with interfering with the rights of the protesters. That’s not always easy, and it’s always easy the next day to second-guess police. Protest leaders and police should keep lines of communication open. There ought to be no surprises. The police should know what’s coming. The protesters should have every assurance that they will be able to make their point. Peaceably. Neither should permit the exercise to get out of hand.