Noise ordinance and first amendment rights

[Anonymous]

Opinions and beliefs about Israel/Gaza aside….. and maybe the noise has stopped by now— ?? I didn’t walk past the area today, but yesterday the sirens were going full-blast… So if they did continue today, here’s my view:

Blaring sirens that can be heard throughout at least a half-mile radius accomplish only the driving of everyone within earshot who’s trying to live, work, or study (and who’s not equipped with industrial-grade headphones) ABSOLUTELY FREAKING BONKERS!!!!!!!!

This astonishingly tone-deaf (no pun intended) performance will not move the dial AT ALL among the people who have true power to stop the war. This is simply becoming an indiscriminate sonic assault on all nearby residents, workers and students (many of whom, after all, do support a Gaza cease-fire!). So….. what the frick is the end game here?!

— posted by the niece of an OG D-Day veteran who lived happily for decades on nearby Yuma Street and passed away in time to be spared this auditory torture — he would have stomped over there to tell the young whippersnappers that protesting is fine, just for the love of god use voices and signs, NOT sirens, please!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Opinions and beliefs about Israel/Gaza aside….. and maybe the noise has stopped by now— ?? I didn’t walk past the area today, but yesterday the sirens were going full-blast… So if they did continue today, here’s my view:

Blaring sirens that can be heard throughout at least a half-mile radius accomplish only the driving of everyone within earshot who’s trying to live, work, or study (and who’s not equipped with industrial-grade headphones) ABSOLUTELY FREAKING BONKERS!!!!!!!!

This astonishingly tone-deaf (no pun intended) performance will not move the dial AT ALL among the people who have true power to stop the war. This is simply becoming an indiscriminate sonic assault on all nearby residents, workers and students (many of whom, after all, do support a Gaza cease-fire!). So….. what the frick is the end game here?!

— posted by the niece of an OG D-Day veteran who lived happily for decades on nearby Yuma Street and passed away in time to be spared this auditory torture — he would have stomped over there to tell the young whippersnappers that protesting is fine, just for the love of god use voices and signs, NOT sirens, please!!!

Apparently, it's working just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Megaphone sirens are not speech.

They would be if a corporation funded them

[Anonymous]

I've concluded these are not good people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've concluded these are not good people.

They aren't good people because they want the killing of children to stop? Do you hate children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Megaphone sirens are not speech.

They would be if a corporation funded them

Aha— touché! Of course… Citizens United… arghhhh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've concluded these are not good people.

They aren't good people because they want the killing of children to stop? Do you hate children?

They are making selfish choices. I have demonstrated many times in DC without behaving selfishly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Opinions and beliefs about Israel/Gaza aside….. and maybe the noise has stopped by now— ?? I didn’t walk past the area today, but yesterday the sirens were going full-blast… So if they did continue today, here’s my view:

Blaring sirens that can be heard throughout at least a half-mile radius accomplish only the driving of everyone within earshot who’s trying to live, work, or study (and who’s not equipped with industrial-grade headphones) ABSOLUTELY FREAKING BONKERS!!!!!!!!

This astonishingly tone-deaf (no pun intended) performance will not move the dial AT ALL among the people who have true power to stop the war. This is simply becoming an indiscriminate sonic assault on all nearby residents, workers and students (many of whom, after all, do support a Gaza cease-fire!). So….. what the frick is the end game here?!

— posted by the niece of an OG D-Day veteran who lived happily for decades on nearby Yuma Street and passed away in time to be spared this auditory torture — he would have stomped over there to tell the young whippersnappers that protesting is fine, just for the love of god use voices and signs, NOT sirens, please!!!

0-decibel reminder that Hamas has the power to stop this war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've concluded these are not good people.

They aren't good people because they want the killing of children to stop? Do you hate children?

They are making selfish choices. I have demonstrated many times in DC without behaving selfishly.

I didn't seem to get any traction.

[Anonymous]

Forgive me as I have not read all of the prior posts, but is there not a decibel level restriction? It seems like a fair rule to at least limit the decibels, in the interest of respecting people who live and work in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Forgive me as I have not read all of the prior posts, but is there not a decibel level restriction? It seems like a fair rule to at least limit the decibels, in the interest of respecting people who live and work in the area.

MPD doesn't respond to noise complaints because DC residents go on social media claiming it's racist to enforce. Why would you expect them to risk violating protest/1st amendment rules?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not political speech. It is sirens laying on the ground. There are not even people there. Just sirens.

You live in Washington DC, which is the bustling capital city of the United States. You're fortunate that there are only a few people there making n0ise. Invest in noise-canceling headphones to help cope with the noise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not political speech. It is sirens laying on the ground. There are not even people there. Just sirens.

You live in Washington DC, which is the bustling capital city of the United States. You're fortunate that there are only a few people there making n0ise. Invest in noise-canceling headphones to help cope with the noise.

"Bustling," huh? You either don't live in DC or your only other reference is an even sleepier little city if you think DC is "bustling"...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not political speech. It is sirens laying on the ground. There are not even people there. Just sirens.

You live in Washington DC, which is the bustling capital city of the United States. You're fortunate that there are only a few people there making n0ise. Invest in noise-canceling headphones to help cope with the noise.

"Bustling," huh? You either don't live in DC or your only other reference is an even sleepier little city if you think DC is "bustling"...

Agreed. The "bustling poster" has never been to Cleveland Park, a residential neighborhood with a smattering of embassies. Most DC residents can roll with permitted parades, protests, marathons etc. Which usually takes place in large memorial and commercial areas. This is simply relentlessly selfish behavior in a residential neighborhood. Doesn't reflect well on the protestors, not that they care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Forgive me as I have not read all of the prior posts, but is there not a decibel level restriction? It seems like a fair rule to at least limit the decibels, in the interest of respecting people who live and work in the area.

MPD doesn't respond to noise complaints because DC residents go on social media claiming it's racist to enforce. Why would you expect them to risk violating protest/1st amendment rules?

I may be naive, but why would it be racist to enforce a noise ordinance? A noise ordinance is designed to protect all people.