Hooliganism | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: Jim Bispo's weekly column appears in the Beaufort Observer.

    If you turn on the TV news, you will likely hear about the anarchists who are planning to disrupt both the Rep and Dem conventions. Lovely people, all.

    It is always a mystery where these folks come from and where they stay when they are "protesting" and where they retreat to when there are not things going on for them to disrupt. Of course the first reaction to these folks is that we need to get them off the streets and stop their protests before they start. But then, you take a deep breath and decide that freedom of speech is worth more than that. They are entitled. They are entitled to disagree and they are entitled to express their views. What they are not entitled to do is restrict other folks' rights, damage property, and otherwise create havoc on the streets (or any place else for that matter).

    Freedom of speech does not extend to disobeying the police, ignoring police barriers, burning vehicles, breaking store windows, looting, and setting fires; the list goes on.. It doesn't and it shouldn't... And where do you suppose the ACLU is while all of this is going on?? They are likely standing in the wings waiting to pounce on the first policeman who they think gets a little too "enthusiastic" in trying to control the unrest. Why aren't they protecting those of us whose civil rights are being trampled by these hooligans??

    Every time these folks "act up", we hear about a lot of arrests. We see pictures of them being dragged off. What we never seem to see or hear is what becomes of them after that. Do they cool their heels in jail for a few days waiting to be arraigned?? Do they go before a Judge?? Do they have to post bail to be released?? Do they get fined"?? It is hard to believe that the answer to any of these questions is "yes". Or do you suppose someone at the Station House simply takes their name (maybe) and tells them to "be nice" before letting them go back to the "fun". I suspect the latter is true.. Therein lies the problem.

    These folks need to be held accountable for their behavior as well as for any damage they do. Who knows; that might even make them think twice before doing it again. In particular the (paid??) instigators need special attention.

    Don't tell me arresting these folks would overload the jail or clog the courts. It is that kind of attitude that keeps them coming back. I would suggest that anyone without adequate jail capacity should contact Joe Arpaio in Arizona for some tips on how to accommodate a large influx of inmates and perhaps even provide them with an experience they would prefer not repeat..

    When these people start trampling on the rights of the rest of us, their free speech privilege ends. It is time that was brought home to them in no uncertain terms. Surely there is a "Sugar Daddy" somewhere way in the background bankrolling these hooligans, or at least the instigators among them. I would think that the money people should bear a good part of the responsibility for the damage that these folks do. Let "Sugar Daddy" pick up at least part of the tab for all the damages. Let him (or her) help with the tab for all the extra police needed to maintain order when they show up, Let them help with the tab for all the cleanup required after the miscreants leave. And then pile on some substantial penalties to see if that will get their attention. It probably won't but....

    The first thing that needs to happen is that we name some names. We identify those who are backing the troublemakers and we make that information public. You would think that something as simple as that would tend to dampen their enthusiasm for riots in the streets. If we continue to let the "bankers" hide in the shadows, they will surely continue to foment street riots in the name of anarchy. We also need to publicize the names of all of those who are arrested and document the penalty assessed against each of them. Some of 'em may even feel some shame. If not them, perhaps their family....

    D'ya think??