EDITORIAL:Peaceful protests keep democracy accountable and shouldn't be conflated with hate speech

THE ISSUE - At Mount Joy Borough's May 4 council meeting, Councilman Bruce Haigh used time reserved for members to speak on any topic to accuse a group of local protesters of disrespecting the sacrifice of U.S. military veterans. "He said the protesters' use of the word 'fascism' was akin to calling a Black person the N-word," LNP - LancasterOnline reported. "Haigh noted his military service in Vietnam and characterized the protest as hate speech."

Freedom of speech is foundational to American democracy.

It is protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Freedom of speech means that peaceful protesters can display signs asking passersby to consider whether there are warning signs of fascism in the current actions of the federal government. Protests of that specific nature have taken place in Mount Joy Borough this year.

Freedom of speech means that anyone, including public officials, can criticize the aims and language used by those protesters, as Councilman Haigh did last month.

And freedom of speech means that people can rebut criticism aimed at protesters and challenge statements they find to be troubling.

It can be messy. But perhaps the messiness is the beauty of democracy, and we're fortunate to live in a nation where back-and-forths like this can still take place.

Freedom of speech also allows this editorial board to weigh in on the Mount Joy conversation, and we have some thoughts.

First, any application of the word "fascism" - by protesters or otherwise - is not remotely akin to calling a Black person the N-word. Absolute full stop.

Second, we don't believe that raising concerns about the actions of elected and appointed officials within the federal government equates to a show of disrespect to past or current members of the U.S. military.

Brian Hyde of Warwick Township, whose letter to LNP - LancasterOnline criticizing Haigh's comments was published today, had a thoughtful response on this point.

Hyde writes: "Regarding Haigh, I'd say, 'I'm a veteran also and he should not wrap himself in the flag while calling another citizen's speech "hate speech." ' I volunteered to serve in order to support and defend my country's Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, which is the heart of the oath we all took when we became part of the U.S. military."

Hyde adds that he has stood alongside other protesters over the past year "under the constitutionally protected right of every American and immigrant to peacefully speak their mind into the public square."

Peaceful protests have a long history as part of America's fabric - they heighten public awareness, spur elected officials to respond and can lead to meaningful, necessary change. In many important chapters of U.S. history, peaceful protesters have helped nudge the nation in a better, more just direction and have been on the right side of history.

Our third and final point: It is incorrect to characterize the protests in Mount Joy - or many similar protests here and across the nation since January 2025 - as hate speech.

It is absolutely not hate speech to raise concerns, via signage or public discourse, about the direction of the current administration. That is the nature of the protests in Mount Joy.

As LNP - LancasterOnline reported: "A video posted online by an organizer of the protest that drew Haigh's ire shows ... a succession of people holding signs so passing drivers can read them in order. The first sign reads, 'The Signs of Fascism.' Subsequent signs displayed list examples - such as 'outlawing dissent,' 'defying court rulings,' 'scapegoating immigrants' and 'threatening foreign nations.' "

Reasonable people should agree that these issues deserve serious attention.

"We're trying to educate people and raise a level of awareness and concern about what's happening in our country," Lynn McCleary, who posted the video online, said.

Protester Jen Angeles added this in public remarks: "If someone sees a sign listing signs of fascism and feels personally accused despite no accusation being made, that reaction deserves self-reflection. The discomfort comes from within. It is not evidence that a peaceful protest was hateful."

Terming a protest "hate speech" can be dangerous to democracy, too, because it could have the chilling effect of making others hesitant to speak out or show up.

The many protests - at the neighborhood level and in large cities - directed toward the Trump administration are a direct and understandable reaction to its actions regarding immigration, healthcare, the economy, the nation's global standing and more. Millions of Americans are worried about the erosion of constitutional checks and balances.

That's not hate. It's love - love of country that's expressed by standing up, turning out and asking the United States to uphold the values first outlined by the founders and carried forward by successive generations that have championed greater equality, freedom and justice for all.

In an editorial about October's "No Kings" rally in Lancaster, we quoted a local college student who explained why she got involved: "because we're American and because we believe in the ideals that this country was founded upon, and we think that our country can do better."

We can do better.

Instead of denigrating protesters, those who question their approach should seek to understand why so many people feel compelled to speak out and use their freedom of speech to effect change.

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