Innocent Bystander Theory

Definition: The innocent bystander theory defines a protest as “permissible”, only if it affects the “legitimate targets of the protest” and does not inconvenience any innocent bystanders (Haiman 16).  

Example: In the text, the example provided is a protest against the mayor at his home; the innocent bystanders, who are his neighbors and family, experience the same harassment although the protest is not directed towards them specifically (16). According to the innocent bystander theory, this specific example of a protest is not permissible because it disturbs the innocent bystanders.

From the Text:

Haiman analyzes the “rhetoric of the streets” and the criticisms of its new manifestations; the innocent bystander theory is one of these criticisms that he rejects (14).  He states that this theory cannot be applied to “political and social protest movements” because in reality, there is no such thing as an “innocent bystander” in these grand movements that affect “public policy or action” (18). That is, “every citizen who supports the status quo…is a legitimate target for the communication of the dissenter” (18). 

Works Cited:

Haiman, Franklyn S. "Rhetoric of the Streets: Some Legal and Ethical Considerations." Readings in the Rhetoric of Social Protest. Browne, Stephen Howard, and Charles E. Morris III, eds. State College, PA: Strata Publishing, Inc., 2013.