Crosswalk Soapbox (CS) is simple. A group of polite, law-abiding protestors spends 30 minutes a day, same time, same day, circulating through the crosswalks on Main Street and its side streets. The crosswalks in downtown Bozeman are green for crossing Main Street for 40 seconds. They are green for crossing side streets (Willson, Tracy, Black, Bozeman, Rouse) for 20 seconds. In Crosswalk Soapbox we are legally entitled to move through those crosswalks with signs and other manifestations of Free Speech. CS is an alternative to large protests and their signs on the sidewalks of Bozeman. The signs, however clever, carried in current protests are not really readable to the audience, passing drivers. In CS, there is ample time for drivers and pedestrians to read the messages we want to convey.
I spoke with Sergeant Justin Chaffins yesterday (January 10) in some detail and he confirmed that he saw no legal issue with CS. He raised the issue of how protestors might impede cars trying to make a right turn at a red light and he acknowledged that happens with the town is full of tourists.
An important element of a regular protest is to not upset shop owners and civilian pedestrians with excessive noise. In addition to varied signs expressing personal opinions, there will be signs like "No Honk, Flash!" encouraging drivers to express their support visually by turning on their emergency flashers. This avoids complaints about the noise inflicted by well-meaning but annoying honking. And it builds a new idea for protest, one that is available, at any time, to anyone driving a vehicle.
I applaud the regular efforts at the Courthouse. And I applaud the positive effect of keeping those already on "our side" invigorated. I just happen to believe that CS would be more effective in reaching people who mayh be having doubts about their support of Trump et.al.
As a regular event at a regular time, CS allows wide latitude for people to participate when they have time, as often as they feel motivated. Depending on current events, signs can be as sombre or as sarcastic as the moment needs.
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