Letter to the editor: Aren't we all allowed to peacefully protest?

Regarding the article “2 Seattle cops who were at U.S. Capitol in January are fired” (Aug. 13, TribLIVE): I thought that in America, people are allowed to peacefully protest. If the officers were violent or destroyed property, they should be reprimanded and possibly fired. However, if they were just “there” in the crowd, how can they lose they jobs? Perhaps because they supported President Trump, and Seattle is a far-left enclave, and the police chief knows that this action will earn goodwill from superiors?

Following that logic, let’s rerun the footage from the months of violent riots that preceded this. Employers can identify people in the crowds who are their employees. If the protest did not align with the employers’ political views, then these people possibly would be fired. It sounds like the Chinese government arresting and persecuting protesters in Hong Kong.

Don’t think it can’t happen in America. Just wait.

Russell Dejulio

Mt. Lebanon