BRIEF SUMMARY OF MAIN POINTS:
- The first amendment states that laws can not be made that will hinder citizens freedom of speech and power to petition and gather together.
- In 2011 at a fallen soldiers funeral, there was a hateful protest going on outside. The Supreme Court told the soldiers father that the first amendment protects "even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate".
- The Supreme Court is trying to ban free speech on its plaza due to a 2011 incident in which a Maryland student wore a sign to the plaza saying "U.S. Gov. Allows Police to Illegally Murder and Brutalize African Americans and Hispanics".
- A federal judge tried to get rid of the ban because he said its "irreconcilable with the first amendment." But Pamela Talkin appealed the ban and gave her argument in front of a judge panel last month.
CONNECTION TO THE QUESTIONS
- Seeing as it's the Judical Branch's job to interpret and make judgements on the law, it shocks me that they can try to put restrictions on the amendment especially since freedom of speech is a right given to us. If they allowed protestors to do a hatful protest at a funeral and another hateful protest to happen at an abortion clinic,why can't one happen at the Supreme Court? It's not as special as the White House. One of the commenters on the article said it best, "a law for me, and a law for thee." We as a nation have laws and privileges that everyone is entitled to and I don't that just because the Supreme Court is a higher rank of power, they can say you can protest anywhere but here. That is a total misinterpretation of what the first amendment says.
QUESTIONS
- Do you think the Supreme Court is wrong for trying to ban protests in the plaza?
- Are there any places that you think a protest should not be allowed to happen?
Well, to answer your questions:
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think the Supreme Court is wrong for banning protests on their plaza; it doesn't hurt the Justices, does it? As long as it doesn't hurt them emotionally/physically, I don't see what the problem is.
On the other hand, I think that protests shouldn't be allowed where emotional or physical harm could occur as a result. For example, the Westboro Baptist Church "preaching" their hatred outside soldiers' funerals greatly affects the families of those soldiers emotionally. And abortion clinic doctors have been subjected to physical violence before, which is partially fueled by protests held outside their offices.
i dont think protest should be allowed on church property, or on a holiday. but it seems to me the supreme court is being a hyprocite telling others to respect and be contitutional and they are banning a part of our first right. the supreme court "should practice what they preach" the supreme court should double check what they are saying and become constitutional
ReplyDelete