Exercising a Right

     Half a dozen demonstrators stood in downtown Boston. Few passersby paid them attention. One reason was the weather. Temperatures were bitter cold.
   What intrigued me wasn’t the demonstrators but a juxtaposition. Behind them, across the street, was a second story balcony. (It is visible behind the woman’s upraised thumb). During the 1830’s, on that balcony, William Lloyd Garrison delivered speeches against slavery. His protestations spawned the emancipation movement.
     One-hundred-and-eighty years later, people still exercise their freedom to protest. This willingness to speak out bodes well for our country.
     Freedom of speech keeps tyranny at bay.