You think the legislation "degrades" the right to protest? As someone that absolutely believes in the right to peacefully protest, I support this kind of legislation 100%. In fact, I see it as contributing to the right to protest by keeping such actions at the political level and not allowing them to become means to intimidate or harass people.
As a conservative, I supported the BLM protests in our town as well as the presence of law enforcement to insure the protests remained peaceful. And both took place... a two mile march of peaceful protestors marched through town for an hour and got the right to express themselves peacefully.
Now imagine you have children that have to walk through a line of angry protestors to get home. Even if you and your children are not the target of angry protestors, no parent would be comfortable with that given the violence that broke out so often in 2020 during what was "billed" as mostly peaceful protests. Look at the "peaceful protests" in Racine that ended with looting and burning and three people dead. If police cannot prevent violence during protests, why would anyone be comfortable with them in residential neighborhoods.
Things can get ugly fast during a protest as the 2020 protests show including the mostly peaceful protest on January 6th in Washington. When Congressional representatives consider 20,000 National Guard troops necessary to protect them from violence that might emerge from a protest is there any reason why citizens would not fear violence from a protest in their neighborhoods?
Allowing these protests into residential areas is simply asking for trouble that could undermine this fundamental US right by people to protest against the acts of their government. Nothing will protect the right to protest more than to take actions designed to allow the protestors to express themselves while acting to minimize the risk that such protests turn violence and if they do turn violent to protect citizens from any harm.
When you view how many "mostly peaceful protests" in 2020 ended with the destruction of property and in some cases the loss of life, the vast majority of Americans are uncomfortable with protests in residential areas... but this is not new... as far back as 1950, these protests were already outlawed with respect to people involved in judicial cases. DeSantis has simply extended the principle to all protests against indiviudals for the safety of them and their families (which they have a right to expect from their government).
Just as in the abortion issue, which involves balancing the rights of the mother and the rights of the baby, DeSantis's is attempting to protect the right of protestors to protest (they can do so in public areas but not in front of private residences) with the rights of individuals not to be safe in their homes and not fearful of violence from angry people.
I suspect if a group of right wing protestors targeted you by protesting outside your home, you would feel differently... ideally, you would remain committed to their right to protest, but also feel you have a right to feel safe at home.
