By Hannah Saunders
On May 12, the Bellevue City Council will be hearing Ordinance 6917, a new law which would criminalize protesting outside of a politician’s home. For months, Seattle Against War (SAW) has been holding protests against Rep. Adam Smith outside of his Bellevue home to demand that he impose an arms embargo on Israel and cease funding for the war on Iran. If passed, protesters engaging in such activity would face a gross misdemeanor, fines, or imprisonment.
“This ordinance directly violates these rights by defining protest in such vague terms that it would essentially make it illegal to show up in a group to Smith’s home at all,” SAW said. “Bringing the guilt and shame of the violence Rep. Smith is complicit in right to his doorstep is the reason we show up.”
The ordinance acknowledges how protests and speech fall under the First Amendment, but that recent protests and demonstrations have targeted specific homes of people “who do not welcome such a activity.” Ordinance 6917 stated that these demonstrations can harass and intimidate residents, may be considered offensive, and can impact people’s privacy, which May cause “emotional distress.” Furthermore, these protests can prevent residents’ movements, making it challenging for them to avoid the action if seeking to leave the home.
“New reasonable regulations related to targeted residential protests and demonstrations are necessary,” according to the ordinance, because existing laws do not properly protect homeowners’ rights to peace and privacy. The ordinance defines a “targeted residential protest” as three or more people who knowingly engage in a protest that focuses on a specific resident “as shown by posting of persons, focused course, or route, in front of, around, or directly adjacent to the residence.”
SAW said this is a “weak attempt” by Rep. Smith to dampen their efforts, and their goal is to get the ordinance to fail, as it violates free speech rights. SAW is encouraging people to attend the city council meeting, which starts at 6 p.m., at 450 110th Ave NE in Bellevue.
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