Anti-mask, anti-vaxxers take protests too far, into dark place

Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021 | 2 a.m.

In recent years, Las Vegans watched as protesters in other states descended on the homes of elected officials and other public figures for displays of intimidation and thuggery that were falsely labeled as protests.

Now it’s happened here. On Sunday, a group of 30 to 40 people gathered outside of Clark County School District board president Linda Cavazos’ home to harass her over the district’s COVID-19 precautions, and 20 showed up at the home of County Commissioner Tick Segerblom in another anti-vax, anti-mask display. Reportedly, a group also targeted County Commissioner Jim Gibson’s home.

This type of threatening behavior is unacceptable, and it should not continue. It has no place in our community, or any other, in a civilized society.

Protesting is one thing. But it’s something else entirely to gang up at someone’s home for two hours to shout false accusations of criminal behavior while waving Confederate and Gadsden flags, as was the case with the crowd at Cavazos’ residence.

Incidents like these are mob behavior, period, designed to provoke fear. Intimidation tactics and harassment represent a revolting exploitation of free speech. How would these “protesters” like it if their home addresses were published with an invitation for members of the public to pay them an intimidating “visit?” There is no good outcome from this.

It takes communities and the nation down a dangerous road, one that will eventually lead to violence against officials unless people dial it back. The officials themselves aren’t the only ones enduring mental abuse and possible violence at the hands of these mobs, either — their families and neighbors also are exposed to the intimidation and threatening behavior.

Displays like these have happened across the country, and have targeted people across the political spectrum. But they’re despicable in every form, whether involving those terrorizing Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s home or right-wing extremists showing up at the home of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat. The Sun, as we’ve done in the past, condemns them in all forms.

Protesting is the right of every American, but the appropriate place to voice dissent is in a neutral space, not at someone’s home. While revived recently, surrounding a home to terrify residents is an old tactic of the Ku Klux Klan to intimidate Black citizens — so it was hardly a coincidence that the Confederate flag appeared at Cavazos’ house. The people there were embodying the darkness that lurks in some Americans.

Those vilifying Cavazos over the district’s masking and vaccination policies can peacefully voice their displeasure in any number of ways: picketing outside the district’s offices, commenting during school board meetings, emailing or calling her office, etc.

Besieging houses, on the other hand, edges our society closer to home invasions and vigilantism, and it further coarsens our political climate.

No one deserves this. Protesters should stop it before someone gets hurt.