Editorial: Peaceful protesting speaks well of community

The Occupy Spokane participants have been demonstrating for about five weeks without the counterproductive disruptions that have occurred in other cities. In fact, the local protesters are putting on a clinic on how to exercise First Amendment rights peacefully and respectfully.

From their small, triangular perch near Monroe Street and Riverside Avenue, they are quite visible, waving signs and coordinating chants. Some motorists honk in support; others employ negative sign language; still others ignore them.

When protesters marched downtown en masse, it raised a bit of a ruckus, but compared with clashes in other cities, it was uneventful. When police asked protesters to take down tents and other temporary structures, they complied without making a scene. That was more than a month ago, and a police presence hasn’t been needed since.

Meanwhile, it’s gotten ugly elsewhere, because opportunistic elements have hijacked the demonstrations for their own purposes, setting up clashes with police.

In Oakland, general worker strikes have broken out and the port was temporarily shut down. The city spent $1 million on an effort to remove protesters from a plaza with tear gas and rubber bullets, only to let them reoccupy it. A Marine veteran suffered a serious head injury.

In Richmond, Va., police cleared an Occupy site with bulldozers and dump trucks, and arrested nine people.

In Denver, 15 protesters were arrested after police used mace and pepper balls to clear a civic plaza of tents and protesters.

In Nashville, the city imposed a curfew and police began arresting protesters, only to have them return when they were released. A judge eventually struck down the curfew, calling it prior restraint against free speech.

In New York City, site of the original Occupy Wall Street rally of seven weeks ago, it’s calmed somewhat after the initial tussles that resulted in arrests and the blocking of the Brooklyn Bridge. The city recently delivered portable toilets for the demonstrators, much to the relief of surrounding businesses.

What’s remarkable about the Spokane campaign is that these confrontations between police and the protesters have yet to occur.

“The police have been very respectful,” a protester told The Spokesman-Review.

Plus, protest leaders have anticipated trouble and headed it off. For example, they closed a temporary kitchen that could’ve created conflict.

As the cold weather approaches and winter’s chill takes its toll, tempers could flare. But, thus far, it’s clear that cool heads are in control.

It reflects well on the community that protests with such potential for mayhem have been conducted with dignity. We hope the mutual respect continues.