As Americans, we believe in the right of peaceful protest — that we can have our say against something we believe to be wrong. We can criticize our politicians or our government without the expectation we will be thrown in jail. We might not even support what someone is protesting, but we defend their right to protest.
When actions advance beyond peaceful comment, though, they either embolden others to perpetrate similar actions or give protesters pause over the outlier actions that did occur.
The most recent example is Ferguson, Mo. — again — where two police officers — neither members of the town’s force — were seriously injured early Thursday morning amid protests following the resignation of the town’s police chief.
Police were present only to make sure the protests remained peaceful, but two were ambushed from a hill about 220 yards from the police station, according to witnesses.
Since six employees of the town have resigned following a Justice Department report that found racial bias in the police department, it’s difficult to understand what’s left to protest. But the protests had been quiet until the gunfire.