Listening to NPR this morning the reporter was very clear that she thought the GOP’s claim that the many liberals encouraged on the Black Lives Matter protests that sometimes boiled over into property destruction was a false equivalence to former president Trump’s rally where his rhetoric and his public denying of the reality of his loss boiled over into violence.

I am a believer in free speech and the ability of the public (including the president) to speak their minds, cause a little ruckus in halls of power, make it a bit inconvenient for legislators and staff. I know I certainly didn’t like it when Occupy Albany blocked State Street and made me sit on the bus hungry for dinner. Or those times I’ve wanted to go for a walk in the Concourse but stayed away due to numerous anti-frack or healthcare cuts protestors. But that’s part of democracy. It’s obnoxious when property or glass is damaged but it can be repaired.

To be clear, I’ve always thought that the former president’s claims over election fraud were completely asinine. Election results are the results and if you don’t like them, well move on and look towards a future election or work in the private sector or retirement. You can’t deny facts on the ground. Elections take place under agreed upon rules, and as the most powerful person in the country, the president certainly had his opportunity to make his mark on the electoral process as he sought fit.

The public has the right to be heard, to peaceful assemble and speak out. Just because the people who are speaking are asinine doesn’t deny them protection under the constitution. Just because a rally gets out of control and angry people engage in vandalism or worse, doesn’t mean that voices shouldn’t be heard.