Ninth Circuit Rules Against Seattle in Using "Heckler's Veto" in Arrest of Pro-life Protester

jonathanturley.org ^ | 4/20/24 | Jonathan Turley

[CFW]

We have often discussed how cities and universities will use the threat of protests to block or shutdown free speech, particularly of conservative speakers or groups. We now have a major decision out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that could prove an important precedent in resisting the growing anti-free speech movement in the United States. In Meinecke v. City of Seattle, the court ruled against Seattle in a case involving the arrest of a pro-life protester. Matthew Meinecke was harassed by Antifa and other counterprotesters, but police arrested Meineche when he refused to yield in exercising his right to free speech.

In his decision, Judge Jay Bybee (who was joined by Judges Margaret McKeown and Daniel Bress) described how Meinecke went to an abortion rally and LGBTQ event to read Bible passages. He was abused and assaulted by the protesters, including some identified as Antifa. The group has regularly engaged in violence against those with opposing views, including pro-life advocates. Yet, rather than protect him and arrest Antifa members, the police demanded that Meinecke stop speaking.

[CFW]

Trump's main legacy (other than revealing the corruption of the media and the deep state bureaucracy) is his judicial appointments. Trump named 10 judges to the 9th Circuit — more than one-third of its active judges — compared with seven appointed by President Obama over eight years.

Those appointments are making a difference as to whether the Constitution is upheld versus people's rights being just swept by the wayside in states such as California, Washington, and Oregon.

[TStro]

He needs to sue the city and police department and break them

[No name given]

And then sue the whole state government.

[SuperLuminal]

A welcome breath of fresh air from the 9th circus...

If we had had an “election” in 2020 instead of a “swindle”, he could still be flushing the circuits...

[sauropod]

review thoroughly.

[KrisKrinkle]

So, he’s allowed to disrupt their demonstrations...which means they are allowed to disrupt ours?

[3RIVRS]

Well “we” never have significant demonstrations but, yes, they could.

This is one area we fail to take advantage of.

[Rinnwald]

If by “disrupting” you mean peaceful counter protesting, then yes.

[jimtorr]

To repeat, If by “disrupting” you mean peaceful counter protesting, then yes.

The difference here is PEACEFUL. The far left is allowed to engage in violent, loud counter protests, and are protected by police. When the right holds a peaceful counter protest, the police arrest us. This happens everywhere in the western world.

[aquila48]

You mean we won one?

[bantam]

Absolutely THIS!!!
Take their cash by the wheelbarrow load! It’s the only thing they understand!