Dear Sir,

In March, there was a call given and heeded for civil disobedience over the Pathways to Status Bill, and it was hailed and celebrated as a great success for the people of Bermuda, never mind that 1,500 citizens were deemed to be the voice and conscience of all 65,000 people.

This was a peaceful demonstration and protest in a robust democracy, with this group prevailing in preventing our legislature entry into the House of Parliament and all was deemed to be well.

The unlawful activity of obstruction on entry into the House and the chamber of government debate and passage of Bills and policy was trashed and reasoned as necessary, contrary to the rule of law. The lesson learnt was numbers prevail over laws thought to be inconvenient by a crowd who posture and tell you defiantly that we disagree and our point of view must prevail irrespective of opposing views.

This moment in our history was a defining moment where our system of democratic government by the people and of the people was hijacked by demonstrators who forcibly blocked entry to the House and set a dangerous precedent that was bound to repeat itself at a later date.

The restraint and reluctance of those entrusted with law enforcement were emboldened by what we see in the latest “peaceful demonstration”, where it was seen to be a right to do the very same thing that was done in March. Civil disobedience is now a mantra for force where it is the considered view of a small percentage of the electorate that the Government is not listening. Therefore, we will have our way and the rest of us should simply capitulate.

The events of last Friday are indeed most disturbing, but what is more alarming is the thinking that the rule of law should be held in abeyance to hot-headed fervour and views that should prevail, even force if needed, as the end justifies the means. The confrontation has taken an ugly turn about us and them, with the police being the bad guys and the demonstrators being the examples of righteousness and truth. We all know this is a huge stretch.

Support of our citizens to engage in their right of dissent and protest does not include any breach of law that our police are duty-bound to enforce with sensitivity and honour. The lot of our police is not always pleasant, as evidenced by officers now packing sidearms; a development most regrettable but necessary.

If we are going to now demonise those charged to keep the peace and prosecute criminal behaviour because it does not suit the political narrative of those demonstrating, then sadly we will careen down a dangerous path leading to anarchy.

Are we now making enemies of our sons and daughters who have chosen a career in the police service?

Are they now monsters who delight in causing suffering and pain?

When cooler heads prevail, we will see this as rash and nonsensical thinking. If you engage in any demonstration, the possibility of unwelcome confrontation always exist.

Putting yourself in harm’s way and then complaining when it happens is unrealistic and may be also foolish.

I do not believe this is a racist country where everything is about skin colour — clearly some issues are without question. The biggest problem in this small community is the issue of right and wrong, and the blurred vision when it come to this most important issue that affects all of our lives. WAYNE B SCOTT