Peaceful protest is not the enemy

As an Iowan, and as someone raised in a family shaped by military service, I was deeply disappointed to hear Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ joke about wanting to give “the one finger salute.” She was opening for a speech by President Donald Trump.

Those protesters were not violent. They were not breaking the law. They were exercising one of the most fundamental rights guaranteed to us as Americans. The right to assemble peacefully and to voice dissent without fear of intimidation or ridicule from the very officials elected to represent them.

My grandfather was a veteran of the Korean War. He earned the Bronze Star for bravery. He believed in service, but he never believed that patriotism meant blind obedience. He often told me about the recruitment officer who lied to him when he enlisted. That experience shaped how he viewed authority. He learned early that people in power can have agendas that do not always align with the best interests of those they serve. He believed that questioning authority was not unpatriotic, but necessary.

My father served in Vietnam, and that experience continues to shape how he views government today. He returned home with deep skepticism toward our leaders, informed by what he saw overseas and by what he returned to in rural America. He has long spoken with disapproval about billions spent on foreign wars with unclear objectives while communities like his struggled with income, opportunity, and basic stability. He does not reject this country. He expects honesty and accountability from those who lead it.

Both men taught me to respect the Constitution. Question authority. Never confuse loyalty to a party or a politician with loyalty to democratic principles.

As a veteran herself, Miller-Meeks understands the oath to defend the Constitution. That oath does not protect only applause or agreement. It protects dissent. It protects protest. It protects the people she was elected to serve, including those who disagree with her.

Peaceful protest is not a threat to democracy. It is proof that it is alive. When elected officials treat lawful protesters with contempt, it sends a dangerous message. It suggests that disagreement is something to be mocked rather than heard.

Leaders do not have to agree with protesters. They do not have to change their positions. But they do have an obligation to respect the public. Dismissive rhetoric deepens division and erodes trust at a moment when trust in institutions is already fragile.

Veterans understand the cost of freedom. They understand that the rights defended overseas must be honored at home. Using military service as cover for rhetoric that belittles constitutional rights does a disservice to those who believed they were fighting to protect those freedoms.

I want leaders who welcome peaceful opposition, not fear it. Leaders who listen before they dismiss. Leaders who remember that they serve all of their constituents, not just those who cheer the loudest. Iowa deserves leaders who respect civic engagement, defend constitutional rights, and put people over party. Iowans deserve better.

Levi Wright lives in Norwalk.