Time to pull the plug on street preachers

Editor’s note: If you would like to submit a letter for possible publication, please email it to editor@rationalist.com.au. See our Publishing Guideline   Dear Editor, The article about street preaching (‘Amplified street preaching a ‘nuisance’ and ‘disturbance of the peace’, RSA tells Melbourne city council’, 9 September 2026) reminds me of an experience I had about 20 years ago in Sydney. I was walking down George St towards Town Hall Station when my progress was obstructed by a crowd of about 100 people standing outside Town Hall. They were listening to a hyped-up god-botherer who was shrieking imbecilic gibberish about holy ghosts, devils, et cetera, through a deafening ghetto blaster on the wall adjacent to the footpath. In continuing to the station, there was no alternative for me other than walking within a foot of this device. As I drew level, I had to turn the volume down to enable me to pass without my brain exploding. The preacher immediately rushed over, invaded my personal space and attempted to provoke a physical confrontation. At the same time, about eight drooling young male psychotics in various states materialised out of nowhere, surrounded me and backed me into a blind alcove against a wall, where I felt highly threatened and vulnerable. It was like suddenly finding myself in a scene from Night of the Living Dead, or being teleported into a Charles Manson family gathering! I was nearly assaulted by these individuals. But I was able to get away by quick...