I know what this clown was doing. I really do. He was some hateful ranter, probably looking to start a fight. But as far as I can tell, he was only speaking (but correct me if I’m wrong).
But is that the path we want to go down? Arresting, actually handcuffing (yes, I know he was turned loose the next day) people for the content of their speech?
Some time ago, I posted (started a thread, in fact) about the Westboro Baptist crew (the “God hates f**s” people) doing their thing. In front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, on the day of the annual Pride March. I guess they were killing two birds with one stone, since apparently they hate the Catholic Church almost as much as they hate gay people.
New Yorkers being New Yorkers, everyone was pretty much ignoring them. There were a few bored-looking cops keeping an eye on everything, but they weren’t really necessary.
That seems like an infinitely better way of dealing with hate-filled street preachers than instantly giving them credibility (among their followers, if they have any) and confirming every delusional belief they have about being repressed and this being the end times and them being persecuted Christians in the catacombs and all that.