Saturday in America

 It is No Kings Day, version 2.

I have been very disturbed by the republicans view of the protests, especially those in positions of leadership. 

Let's be clear! To say the protests are anti-American is unconstitutional.

The protests today are uniquely American and they are protected by the Constitution.

Amendment 1 U.S. Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I have witnessed many recent events which weaken this amendment and I need to remind my friends that there is a good reason why this amendment is first in the Bill of Rights. This amendment, arguably, is the most important in the Bill of Rights because it helps preserve democratic functions of government. 

In the past weeks, the assault upon the 1st Amendment have been severe. 

The press has been stifled. We are getting no news about the potentially unlawful attacks on shipping in the Caribbean. The Pentagon created untenable restrictions on the press. 

I found that FoxNews signed the following to be especially insightful:

“The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections,” the outlets said.

To underscore: This is Hegseth’s own former employer saying he’s undermining freedom of the press. (CNN)

And for the planned rally today:

Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday slammed the No Kings protest march scheduled to take place at the National Mall next week, describing the planned protest as the “hate America rally” that would draw “the pro-Hamas wing” and “the antifa people.” 

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), another senior House Republican, also criticized the planned demonstration and blamed it for prolonging the shutdown. Telling reporters Democrats had caved to the “terrorist wing of their party,” Emmer alluded to a “hate America rally in D.C. next week.”  (Politico)

If you don't think the 1st Amendment is under attack, look again. 

So what is the purpose of today's rallies? Simple, in my mind it is to demonstrate to the Republican-controlled Congress that they are headed in the wrong direction. They have stopped listening to the constituents in their districts, maybe they will listen to "We the People!"

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL