Protest Areas?

Question

Lets say I wanted to protest a ferry docking in a nearby port in Maui (the superferry)....

Why am I not allowed to carry out my peaceful protest on the dock? Oh yeah, they have closed off the area and surrounding harbor in case of "protest action and civil disobedience."

Ummm, this is censoring you guys and its against the constitution.

When is the revolution again?

Answer 1

Even if it is government owned it could still be private propery. Like air force bases. why don't you just protest in from of the building as close as you can, or in the road so you block traffic.

Answer 2

If what you are saying is correct and previous protesters did not allow the dock to be used by the ferry, then yes, they have a right to limit protesting.

You seem to think protesting allows you to inhibit others from proceeding with their business.

Sorry, not the way it works.

Protesting peacefully means letting others know your opinion about something.  

The moment you restrict others' movement or access to something or someone, it is "unlawful assembly", and a violation of their civil rights, not yours.

Answer 3

Mark A is correct.  You can protest but only in a manner that does not interfere with other people.

Another issue is safety and security - can they trust your word that it will be a 'peaceful' protest?  (Especially since protesters have attempted to block the ferry?)

Answer 4

I would ask who owns the dock? It is probably private property thus you don't have a right to be on someone else Private Property with out their permission.

Well if its public then you should be able to , but this is not usually the case. It is very very common today for governments to limit where you can protest , based on claims of safety issues.  You would have to challenge it in court , good luck with that , as the courts have become shills for the government

Its done here in NY within a certain distances of city buildings, "for safety"

Answer 5

The owner of private property has the right to exclude anyone they want. You do not have the right to enter the dock.

By the way, to save you some time, you can't stand on my front lawn and protest either.

Answer 6

They have to balance your right to protest against everybody else's right not to have to put up with you.

So, let you protest in the next county.  You're still being allowed to peaceably assemble.