The First Amendment’s Right to Assemble and Petition the Government

1. The First Amendment’s Right to Assemble and Petition the Government By

2. The First Amendment“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.”

3. The Right of the People Peaceably to Assemble • This is a fundamental right. • Government can’t stop people from coming together to protest. • This part of the First Amendment is directly related to the other rights in the First Amendment.

4. Ratification dates • Proposed September 25 1789 • Ratified December 15, 1791

5. Why was this right adopted? • To allow large groups to assemble and to protest. http://www.itsablackthang.com/images/Art-Photo/corbis-archive-mlk-dream-speech.jpg

6. About the Amendment: Assembly Steps to get a permit • Gather the appropriate information for the protest. You will need an estimate of how many people are going to show up. You need to know the area you will be in or the route you are walking. You will need a time frame, though most jurisdictions have this already established. • Call your city offices with the details of your protest including the date and start time. You will have to fill out an application ahead of time and pay a fee. • Inform those involved in the protest of the city ordinances and laws surrounding a demonstration. Most cites do not allow you to block traffic, doorways and other areas that interrupt business or the general flow of the public moving around your city. • Call the city the day before to ask about any last minute changes or requirements to make sure you are in full compliance. Carry your copy of the permit during the protest at all times.

7. Limitations on Freedom of Assembly • Government can regulate the time, place and manner of assembly for public safety. • Government cannot regulate the manner of assembly because of the purpose of the assembly.

8. Limitations on Freedom of Assembly: Examples • Cannot protest at night with an amplifying device to wake up everybody. • Cannot block public roads or highways to cause unsafe situation. • Cannot protest on private property. • If any property damage occurs the protest can be ended immediately.

9. Protesting the Vietnam War – 1960’s www.rwf.gr/photos1-new.php?id=137&photog=1

10. Civil Rights http://www.congresslink.org/civilrights/images/bg_left_index1.gif

11. Protesting the Iraq War - 2007 www.thestar.com/images/assets/182149_3.JPG

12. Protesting On Abortion http://www.unconfirmedsources.com/nucleus/media/5/20060222-protest.jpg

13. Protesting For Gay Marriage http://www.socialism.com/images/safecomarriage.jpg

14. About the Amendment: Assembly Important public assemblies • Anti-war groups • Civil rights organizations • Abortion rights movements • Million T-shirt march! http://exchangeclubdayton.org/welcome/tshirt/

15. Supreme court cases National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie In 1978 American Nazis wanted to assemble in Skokie, Illinois. The town passed a law to stop them, charging a $350,000 permit fee. The Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow the Nazis to march. Even though Nazis are bad, the First Amendment rights are more important. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Party_of_America_v._Village_of_Skokie http://www.kansaspress.ku.edu/strwhe.html

16. Supreme court cases Cuffley v. Mickes (Ku Klux Klan and Free Speech) Missouri refused to allow the KKK to participate in Adopt-a–Highway Supreme Court said KKK cannot be excluded because of their views Even though the KKK is bad, the First Amendment rights are more important http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=1960 http://atheism.about.com/library/decisions/speech/bldec_CuffleyMickes.htm

17. Supreme court cases DeJonge v. Oregon In 1934, Dirk DeJonge wanted to organize a meeting of Communists in Oregon. He was was convicted of a crime and sentenced to 7 years for only trying to organize a the Communist Party even though he did no other crimes The Supreme Court voted to throw out his conviction. The government can’t put people in jail who do not agree with their opinions on government. . http://static.flickr.com/48/137059758_334b3a8b76.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeJonge_v._Oregon http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/comm/free_speech/dejonge.html

18. About the Amendment: Petition What are petitions? • Letters to the government with feedback. • Carry people’s signatures about the opinion.

19. About the Amendment: Petition Why do people petition the government: then and now? • Then, people used petitions to have a say when they didn’t have a say in government. • Now, people use them to give their voice as a say about laws they like or do not like.

20. About the amendment: Petition What are the differences between normal and e-petitions? Normal petitions Go from door to door asking for signatures. Delivered by mail. Can only be seen by who it’s sent to. People have to hear through other sources to get results. E-petitions Ask people by e-mail or by the internet. Delivered by e-mail. Can be put on the internet for a broader audience. Copy can be sent via e-mail with results.

21. Importance then • The importance then was that so citizens could protest against the government about tax laws, wars, or anything else.

22. Importance now • The importance now is still the same. • People have the right to protest outside of the Supreme Court, to protest wars and laws and also certain issues, such as abortion, and whatever else people who are free wish to protest.

23. Bibliography