When does free speech become illegal? The way I look at it, you have the right to say or to demonstrate to your heart’s content but you must remember that there may be heavy consequences to your actions particularly when those actions impede the rights of others.If you constantly libel someone, slander them, present information that is a lie, hate speech, etc. you can be sued in a civil court. If, say, you take it to the next level and threaten a politician, you can actually be subjected to prosecution, jailed and fined. Protests are one thing but when you actually create problems of enormous magnitude, costing the taxpayers time and money, then you have gone beyond what is considered our First Amendment right. Free speech is not absolute.
Panagioti and his group do not protest for their 15 minutes of fame. They are devoted and relentless in bringing awareness to global warming and other environmental issues. In this instance, they believe they have a worthy cause, just another in their many "fights" to save the environment. This time the target was FPL. It is their right to protest anything they choose. Also I am rather sure that he weighed all of his options when he organized this protest, taking on the "big boys." Sometimes it is necessary to bring attention to a cause for which you feel so ardent.
The protest was off the road at Southern Boulevard. As I recall, they formed a human chain, lying down and blocking entry into the plant. Because of his actions, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department literally closed down traffic on a major State Highway. I guess the Sheriff thought it a safety issue. This caused traffic jams up to two hours and truckers were denied their right to make a living.
The Sheriff’s Department, along with the number one employer in the State of Florida, FPL, was determined to shut the activists up. They did yesterday…60 days for Panagioti and an undetermined fine.
Pangioti was booked into the County Jail at 6:40pm on February 2 and Lynne Purvis at 6:27pm. The jail sentences, badges of courage, will not be a deterrent nor will it hurt these activists devoted to what they perceive as righting the wrong. The fine might.
Activists picket jail
