His press releases are reprinted or recited verbatim by major news outlets. Every word the man says is reported on extensively. It’s silly almost beyond comprehension to believe that Eric Garcetti can be silenced by protesters, that anyone interrupting him can make it impossible for him to share his views. Protesters who shout down a speaker - or shut down a public meeting - aren’t just expressing their own views they’re making it impossible for others to share theirs. These days, tolerance of other people’s views seems low, and there’s an unhealthy willingness to silence one’s opponents rather than engage them, debate them and out-argue them. Times entitled Shouting down Mayor Garcetti isn’t ‘speaking truth to power,’ the theme of which is well summarized by this excerpt:īut protesters can overplay their hands.
Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti was invited to speak, but his speech was repeatedly interrupted by protesters from LA CAN, from the Skid Row Neighborhood Council Formation Committee, from NOlympics LA, and others. Last week USC hosted a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
