Right To Protest Is Not Absolute

Canadians are fortunate. They have the right to protest about this and that. They have no idea how fortunate they are, because it doesn’t exist in other countries.

However, the right to do anything is not absolute. It is limited. A neighbour might love his tree, but the leaves might be a nuisance to his right hand neighbour.

Equally, the right to hit the streets to protest about anything is limited. That’s why there are laws for marches. Organizers must give the City or Municipality the where, when and how, if they want a permit to march.

The City seals off certain streets, assigns police for the day and buses use alternative routes. Marches are an inconvenience, especially if you did not check certain websites before leaving home. But still, people don’t complain. They understand the right to protest.

It is limited because infrastructure like roads is shared. In fact, the best way to put it is having the right of way. Traffic lights control us, so do pedestrian walks and stop signs. We seldom think about it, but it is a good example of balancing rights.

You just bought a low lying multi-million dollar two-seater, made in Italy by way of China. You have a right to your car but you cannot zoom into red traffic lights because the car wants to breathe.

Marching is a right to free speech, but it is controlled because we are like stone pebbles. We live together, different as we are. They’ll be anarchy if powerful groups trample upon rights of less vocal groups.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.