District’s Noise Law is Shameful

(CLICK TO ENLARGE Copyright © 2007. David Klavitter) Amplifiers can be used to disturb and bully. Peter Person (left), a designer of BIC (Brothers in Christ) Fashions, attempts to debate with the amplified Yahanah of the Israeli School of Universal Practical Knowledge at the southeast corner of H and 8th Streets NE on Saturday, March 24 about 7:30 p.m.

The exchange of theological words and opinions in the public space disintegrated into a one-sided decibel bashing when the extremely amplified Yahanah smothered Person’s words. An exasperated Person finally got fed up with the unfair treatment and walked away.

People who say D.C.’s noise law ensures free speech rights should be ashamed of what happened to Mr. Person’s freedom to speak in the open marketplace of ideas. The broken noise law allows unreasonable groups to disturb residential neighborhoods for hours and to bully opposing viewpoints in public space.