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- Derek Weston via fox - Opinion
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- Politics·4 min to read
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Protesters Target Chief Justice Roberts' Vacation Home in Maine
ReProtesters Target Chief Justice Roberts' Vacation Home in Maine
Liberal activists calling themselves «kayak-tivists» staged a flotilla protest outside Chief Justice John Roberts' summer home in Maine, continuing a pattern of demonstrations at the residences of conservative Supreme Court justices that critics condemn as reckless and dangerous.
Liberal activists descended on Chief Justice John Roberts' vacation home in Maine this week, forming a flotilla of kayaks and holding signs to protest the jurist's decisions on the Supreme Court. The demonstrators, who call themselves «kayak-tivists,» gathered on the water facing Roberts' summer residence on Hupper Island, continuing a pattern of protests that have targeted the homes of conservative justices in recent years.
The protests at Roberts' home follow similar actions against other members of the court's conservative majority. Protesters previously gathered outside the home of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, where they left bloody dolls on the lawn knowing she had young children inside. In one case involving Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a man was arrested near his home and charged with attempted assassination. The demonstrations have raised concerns about the safety of the justices and their families.
Roberts, who has served as chief justice since 2005, has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. President Donald Trump has regularly attacked Roberts for voting against his position in major cases ranging from tariffs to birthright citizenship. Meanwhile, liberal activists have targeted Roberts over decisions they oppose, including recent rulings that narrowed protections for transgender athletes and minors and allowed Trump's immigration crackdown to proceed.
The New York Times recently featured Becca Shaw Glaser, a Maine columnist who was dropped by her publication after urging Mainers to harass Roberts whenever he ventured out of his home. According to the Times, Glaser was approached last year by Roberts' daughter, Josephine, who sought to defend her father during one of Glaser's protests. The newspaper also recounted how local resident Wendy Schlotterbeck was outraged when Roberts was spotted celebrating the Fourth of July on the island, citing her transgender relatives and immigrant friends who had been arrested.
Protesting outside the home of a Supreme Court justice is a crime under federal law, though some legal scholars have questioned the constitutionality of such statutes. Despite the legal questions, critics argue that the protests should be condemned by Americans across the political spectrum as reckless and wrong. The demonstrations have largely targeted conservative justices, while liberal members of the court have been spared similar actions at their homes.
Supporters of the court note that the justices continue to rule independently, often voting unanimously or nearly unanimously. The conservative majority has also ruled against the Trump administration when the law requires it, demonstrating what supporters describe as the court's commitment to legal principles over partisan agendas. Unlike those who advocate for expanding the court to achieve a liberal majority, the justices have continued to decide cases based on the law rather than political outcomes.
The current Supreme Court term is expected to include several major decisions, and protesters are anticipated to return to the homes of justices around Washington in the coming months. While Americans have every right to debate and protest court decisions, critics argue that demonstrations at justices' private residences cross a line and should be denounced by all sides. The protests, described by some as a «sea of rage,» highlight the deepening tensions surrounding the nation's highest court and the increasingly personal nature of political disagreements in the United States.
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