I’ve had the misfortune of living through testy times for our country. Some of the most tense moments included the protests affiliated with wars and civil rights.

Americans have struggled numerous times when they took to the streets to express their doubts about how our government should deal with the right of free speech, but, for the most part disagreements were addressed and peace ensued. The activities and demands of protesters currently make no sense to me and so many other Americans. Once again, freedom of speech is front and center.

To be clear, I’m a strong advocate of free speech. But there are limitations that must be honored. Free speech should be nonviolent and respectful of the rights of others. In other words, free speech is not legitimate and is unlawful if it results in any person’s bodily harm or destruction of property. So, when we see crowds of protesters throwing rocks at police and looting stores, we are seeing criminal activity that warrants police action and incarceration.

The riots in Los Angeles and other places have rekindled some dark moments pitting liberals against conservatives, young against old and white against black.

When I compare the student strikes in the late 60s to the LA riots, the latter lacks the legitimacy of the other. Students and minorities in the 60s demanded that our government be more responsive to very questionable actions by the armed forces encouraging a nonsensical war. The military might of the US was stymied by Vietnamese soldiers. More than fifty thousand Americans were lost during the war and thousands were injured physically and mentally. Young people asked why the US was fighting against a backward country without a cause. There is not one political, social or military outcome that benefitted the US from its participation in the Vietnam. 

Simultaneously, Black leaders led by Martin Luther King, Jr. encouraged their followers to rise up against unfairness and inequality. With the exception of the Civil War, no other social movement was so powerful. The rationale to go to the streets peacefully and challenge a government that was not living up to its constitution is totally defensible.

Compare the current rioting to the peaceful demonstrations in the 60s. In the 60s, protesters demanded an end to a senseless war and racism in the US. In LA, the protesters are fighting for the “rights” of 20 million illegal aliens that have invaded our country and the “rights” of Palestinians in Israel. Some Americans want an end to the Zionist movement and call for the downfall of the State of Israel. 

I have to ask myself what these Americans are doing? Is there any justification of LA riots their dubious objectives? Should protesters support the 20 million interlopers in the US and blood thirsty terrorists that are calling for the destruction of Israel, one of our country’s most important allies ?

In the 60s, protest was justifiable. In 2025, the protests have been illegal, violent and unreasonable. I fully support the president’s decision to quell the rioting with our military.