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EDITORIAL
Clarkstown Republicans Should Think Twice Before Compromising An Iconic Vortex of Free Speech
Rockland County is no stranger to political brinksmanship – hell, some would say we’re at the top of the class. But politicizing the county’s Four Corners in Nanuet, the decades-long iconic vortex for protesters, is a step too far in our increasingly fragile democracy where free speech and free assembly are under attack.
Just turn on the news or scroll your Substacks to metabolize nationwide efforts to crack down on protesters nationwide, particularly those who are using their First Amendment rights to express horror over the Trump administration’s brutal immigration policies.
Now, Clarkstown officials are undertaking a brazen effort to suppress speech and assembly.
Two Republican Clarkstown town officials have publicly floated the idea of limiting protests at the corner of Route 59 and Middletown Road, known as “The Four Corners” in Nanuet to Sundays between 8 am and 10 am – a time that is too early for most to come out, particularly during Sunday church hours. Town Supervisor George Hoehmann and Third Ward Councilman Don Franchino leaked their intentions in public last week.
Citing “safety concerns” and “business complaints” is clearly a pretext for a brazen scheme to quash the impact of the massive No Kings protests that take aim at Donald Trump’s handling of tariffs, SNAP benefits, Obamacare subsidies, a disregard for the rule of law, media suppression, and so much more. Many protesters show up with signs excoriating Congressman Mike Lawler, a Republican, which pundits say is the genuine reason Clarkstown Republicans are willing to undermine the town’s integrity and suppress dissent. Lawler is also the Chairman of the County’s Republican party.
The central location has drawn protestors of every stripe over the years, including those on both sides of the Israeli-Hamas divide. Clarkstown officials have also suggested relocating protests to Rockland Community College — which is much less visible, and not even in the Town of Clarkstown.
So far, we have not seen any data to suggest that protests have presented a “safety” issue. In fact, after the Oct. 18th No Kings protest, which drew more than 4,500 protesters, the advocacy group Indivisible exchanged complimentary emails with the Clarkstown Police Department praising one another for keeping the peace. RCBJ has sent an email to the Clarkstown Police seeking data that supports safety issue complaints or a significant number of arrests at that location over the past three years.
The Four Corners is the physical heart of Clarkstown, and the county. It’s a commercial thoroughfare with large shopping centers that have more than ample capacity for protester parking. There is also a municipal lot behind the Shops at Nanuet (recently renamed Nanuet Town Center).
Businesses may experience some commotion during a large protest, but First Amendment rights trump those inconveniences. In fact, members of Indivisible say they’ve collaborated with some of the fast-food chains by steering protest parking away from their parking lots – and by encouraging protestors to eat at their establishments. And many protesters have weighed in on social media, saying they shop in the area after protests.
The Four Corners is a public thoroughfare that has belonged to the people as far back as the Vietnam War protests, or maybe even earlier. The location is strategic because it is highly visible, easy to get to, and accommodates thousands of protesters who’ve been showing up recently without causing significant disruption. The traffic flows – and the supportive honks are a plus for protesters. Nobody has been hurt or arrested – not that we know of. These crossroads represent a soapbox for issues we’ve peacefully disagreed over for decades – and many are not too pleased at the idea of Clarkstown trying to interfere with these freedoms.
Don Franchino Spreads Misinformation
Franchino, who either doesn’t understand how things work or was spreading misinformation, said in a public forum that the protests, which he confused with an “event,” require a permit. Protests in Clarkstown do not require permits. He further said that “event” organizers need to have insurance for such events. This is patently false. One would think Franchino, a former insurance broker whose family still runs the company, would know better.
The problem with comments like Franchino’s, or Hoehmann’s suggestions that there are “safety issues,” without providing specifics, is that they create a false impression of concern because these statements are coming from public officials. Public officials bear a burden to be accurate and truthful. Whatever the agenda is here, weaving an ominous narrative around “safety” at protests at the Four Corners is designed to send a chilling message. Protest organizers might be deterred; protesters might feel afraid. Or not. The suppression of free speech might also elicit that opposite reaction, making people more resolute to assert their rights and fight for hard-won American freedoms that we’re not willing to relinquish.
Keeping An Eye On Clarkstown’s Upcoming Agendas
Pundits are closely watching Clarkstown’s upcoming town agendas to see if a resolution crimping protesting at the Four Corners is included. They are waiting to see if a resolution to restrict protests from 8 am to 10 am – or any other provisions – land on the Nov. 24th agenda. TAKE NOTE: Nov. 24th is the Monday before the Thanksgiving holiday. Clarkstown typically holds its town board meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. The Monday before Thanksgiving is likely to be a busy week for many preparing meals or travel.
This potential effort to attack free speech arises at a unique moment in our political history. Because of a new state law, municipal elections will be held again in Nov. 2026, along with a gubernatorial race and Congressional races, including that of the beleaguered Congressman Lawler’s. In recent weeks we have watched 7 million attend No Kings protests nationally, a Blue Wave election sweep the nation, Prop 50 pass in California as a bulwark against Texas’ gerrymandering, food stamps taken away from the hungry, and now the threat of 22 million Americans, including many in the county, losing Obamacare health subsidies.
We like to say politics is local but less so these days. News and social media coverage of the No Kings protests exploded into online warfare, with a top Rockland County official wading into the media fray over that Oct. 18th weekend. All this speaks to our rights to say what we have to say – even if the messaging is divisive or oppositional. Which is why the Four Corners must not be compromised or tainted by politics.
