Reader's View: Juvenile protesters did more harm than good

On March 12, I attended a fundraiser for 8th District Congressman Rick Nolan at the Vikre Distillery in the Paulucci Building at 525 Lake Ave. S. I was surprised by the number of protesters outside the building. One group was for protecting wolves and another was opposed to oil pipelines. They basically, at that time, walked back and forth with placards promoting their views. There was one young man with a video camera interviewing some of those going into the event.
Later on, the congressman addressed the attendees inside who gathered around a large table. The congressman’s back was to the windows as he spoke. It was at that moment that some of the protesters decided to push their views. The audience inside was witness to protesters outside banging their posters against the windows. The person with the camera then began taking video of the people listening to the speech. Then he decided to write something on the window with his finger.
I don’t deny people the right to protest, but this was a very juvenile demonstration. It was downright rude. If these protesters were trying to win people over to their side or change the congressman’s mind, they did more to harm their causes then help, I think.
Arden W. Stabs
Duluth