by Gil Gale, Corvallis and Wayne Adair, Hamilton
Update for readers. On March 28 this year at the No Kings rally on First Street in Hamilton, a couple of coal rollers insisted on repeatedly assaulting their peaceful neighbors by deliberately dousing them with toxic diesel truck exhaust. The incidents were not accidents blamed on defective mufflers. These trucks were illegally modified to accomplish this childish goal. Law enforcement professionals wrote the rollers citations. Rolling coal, if you don’t know, is a violation of several legal statutes.
So, what is the point of this rolling? Inflict harm on your neighbors? Avoid having a rational discussion about issues? Thumb your nose at law enforcement officers? Give the city judge a reason to sock you with another fine? (FYI: City of Billings fines coal rollers hundreds of dollars and those folks there value their fossil fuel industry.)
What mature grownup, regardless of political persuasion, thinks that this noxious, dangerous and infantile practice is a way we should treat each other? Condemning and demanding strong penalties for this kind of attack on our mutually shared right of free speech should be a no-brainer.
Here’s an alternative. Rather than wastefully spewing that $4.88 per gallon diesel over your neighbors, just park your rig and have a conversation with us No Kings demonstrators about solutions. Hundreds of us would value that opportunity. That’s how the Constitution of the United States works.
Richard McNally says
A wise call for dialogue in response to illegal activity. This is the road to a better America. Well done, Mr. Gale.
Kevin says
Hate is spewed by protesters not tailpipes. Just because Trump was elected you don’t have to pout in public, you look sad.
WMA says
Protesters are “spewing” optimism for our country and confidence in the endurance of democracy. Tailpipes are erupting with childish, illegal tantrums. Grow up.
Steve Schmidt says
Rolling coal is an act of hate. Are we going to allow hate to dominate our society? Come on folks, we’re better than this.
SRK says
Give me a break! You may not like their expression but maybe they don’t like the signs and being forced to drive through a crowd with, sometimes, hateful messages displayed on signs about our president. Evidently, one is free speech, the other isn’t allowed because you don’t agree with it.
WMA says
No, SRK, one is allowed because it is Constitutionally protected free speech; the other is not allowed because it is illegal- and coal rollers get caught and fined every time it happens.
Gomez says
SKR. I think that the fair way to treat Trump is to never treat him with any more disrespect than he has treated those who he disagrees with. Does that sound fair to you?