MY FREEDOM DOESN T END WITH YOUR FEAR FREE

Unless there is real danger of imminent harm, assembly rights must be respected.вЂќ As a First Amendment scholar says in this overview, вЂњFirst Amendment freedoms ring hollow if government officials can repress expression that they fear will create a disturbance or offend. Our right to gather in peaceful public protest вЂ“ in marches, rallies and other assemblies вЂ“ is another core freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment. This First Amendment scholarвЂ™s overview makes clear the many aspects of our religious freedom, saying, вЂњThat bold constitutional experiment in granting religious freedom to all remains in place, and in progress, in the United States.вЂќ The First Amendment introduced bold new ideas to the world: that government must not impose a state religion on the public, or place undue restrictions on religious practice, but must recognize the right of the people to believe and worship, or not, as their conscience dictates. In quotations from one court ruling, вЂњвЂreedom of expression upon public questions is secured by the First AmendmentвЂ™вЂќ so that вЂњвЂdebate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust and wide-open.вЂ™вЂќ How did freedom of the press come about? Are there restrictions on press freedom? The ways in which this core freedom has developed in law are explained in this overview by a First Amendment scholar.

MY FREEDOM DOESN T END WITH YOUR FEAR FREE

What does the First Amendment say about freedom of speech? Can speech be restricted, and if so, when? In this overview, a First Amendment scholar explains what sorts of speech are protected, where free expression may be limited, and why вЂњreedom of speech is a core American belief, almost a kind of secular religious tenet, an article of constitutional faith.вЂќ

Looking for a general overview? Here it is, from the First Amendment Encyclopedia. Students have the right to pray in AmericaвЂ™s public schools, as long as thereвЂ™s no disruption to school operations and no government employees (teachers, coaches) are involved.The First Amendment prevents government fromВ requiringВ you to say something you don't want to, or keeping you from hearing or reading the words of others (even if you never speak out yourself, you have the right to receive information).The First Amendment protects us against government limits on our freedom of expression, but it doesnвЂ™t prevent a private employer from setting its own rules.The First Amendment is neither вЂњleft-wingвЂќ or вЂњright-wing.вЂќ It can be used to push for social and political change, or to oppose change.If youвЂ™re in the U.S., you have freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition. ThereвЂ™s also no citizenship requirement for First Amendment protection. They are guaranteed to you the day youвЂ™re born. ThereвЂ™s no вЂњlegal ageвЂќ you have to reach to exercise your First Amendment freedoms.Before agreeing to accept the Constitution, the Founders of our democratic republic demanded that these freedoms be protected by an amendment to the original document вЂ“ the First Amendment.

Together, these five guaranteed freedoms make the people of the United States of America the freest in the world. The five freedoms it protects: speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government.вЂњCongress 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.вЂќ вЂ“ The First Amendment to the U.S.

My freedom doesn t end with your fear