Yesterday I wrote “Protesting Our Healthcare” which was about protesters at Boston Hospital, this time the anti-trans protesters were in Providence RI and also in Chicago,
Protesters rally outside Cranston library where anti-transgender activists hold forum
The Providence Journal
By Linda Borg
September 19, 2022
More than 100 activists turned out at a local library Monday night to protest a private forum whose speakers openly oppose transgender rights for youth."I'm so glad to see you here," the Rev. Donnie Anderson, a transgender activist, told the cheering crowd. "How many of you believe that transgender people are human?"
"Trans rights are human rights," said Sen. Tiara Mack. "Never forget that you are beautiful. Never forget that your body is your own. No one gets to tell you who you are."
Calling it “hate speech,” activists had earlier asked the William Hall Library to cancel the event, sponsored by the Independent Women’s Network, a right-wing organization that has been characterized as anti-feminist by national news media.
One of the speakers was Nicole Solas, who made national news last summer after she filed 200 public-record requests with the South Kingstown School Committee. Solas, a South Kingstown parent, wanted to know if critical race theory was being taught in the classroom.
Okay a couple of things, first the difference between the protesters at the Drag Story Hour at a library the protesters the Advocate wrote…
A gunman intimidated patrons Sunday at a Nevada library hosting Drag Queen Story Time.
A man with an armed rifle interrupted the event at the library in Sparks, where children had assembled to enjoy reading.
Before the panic, local drag queen Miss Ginger Devine read to children at the Washoe County Library System's Sparks location while Proud Boys members protested.
Wearing the militia's colors of yellow and black, the group carried placards that read, "Stop sexualizing children! Shame on you for trading your kids just to look 'woke.' Woke is broke."
I don’t know about you but I see a difference between protesting with bullhorns outside and armed protesters and disrupting the meeting.
The second point which I think will generate flak over this… there is no law against “hate speech” the courts time, and time again no matter how much we do not like it is protected by the First Amendment, speech crosses the line when threats are made. I don’t like it but that is what the courts (both liberal and conservative courts have ruled it.).
Much as he disagrees with the views of the forum, library director Ed Garcia said the library has a long-standing practice of allowing outside groups to hold private meetings, a position supported by the American Library Association and case law.
Asked whether the library was tacitly endorsing hate speech, Garcia said the law isn’t clear on what constitutes hate speech.
The third point that I want to make is that we have fought long and hard for our right to use libraries for our message and to deny those opposed to us the right to use the libraries is hypocritical.
I believe what was done in Providence was correct, peaceful protests.
Out in the Midwest threats of violence has forced a hospital to change their procedures.
Lurie Children’s Hospital takes action after its gender development program is targeted on Twitter
Chicago Tribune
By Lisa Schencker
September 19, 2022
Lurie Children’s Hospital has increased security and moved a transgender youth support group from in-person meetings to virtual ones after it became the latest children’s hospital to face criticism online over its gender development program.An account called Libs of TikTok posted a number of tweets late last month criticizing Lurie’s program, which aims to support “the physical, mental and social health of patients and their families as youth progress through gender identity development,” according to Lurie’s website. Many of the program’s patients are gender-nonconforming children, gender-questioning youth and transgender and gender-fluid youth.
In recent months, Libs of TikTok has criticized a number of children’s hospitals across the country for their care of transgender youth. Hospitals criticized by the account have sometimes received threats.
They crossed the line when threats were made… now it has become a bias crime.
Other hospitals including Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., Akron Children’s Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital have also been targeted by the account, which has 1.3 million followers.
There is a big difference between protesting and threats of violence. As Newton Lee said in 1959,
There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Free speech encourages debate whereas hate speech incites violence.
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