ACLU: Our Right to Protest Is on the Line
by Kathy Grear 11/16/2018From kicking journalists out of press rooms to denouncing criticism as ‘fake news,’ it’s no secret that President Trump isn’t a fan of free speech. Now, he’s taken it a step further by proposing dangerous new rules that would severely limit the right to protest near the White House and on the National Mall.
Earlier today the Senate held a confirmation hearing for Trump’s pick for director of National Park Service, Raymond David Vela – the official who would have the power to implement these rules.
The Senate could soon vote on whether to confirm Vela. That’s why we need your help, John.
The proposed rules would ban protests from 80 percent of the White House sidewalk, limit the ability to engage in spontaneous demonstrations in response to breaking news on the National Mall and near the White House, and even open the door to charging a fee for anyone who wants to exercise their constitutional free speech rights. It would also enact unprecedented restrictions on signs, banners, and speakers’ platforms.
If fee requirements were in effect in the 1960s, they could have blocked some of the most important demonstrations in our country’s history from ever happening, like the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Does that sound like America to you?
Your senators will soon vote on whether to confirm Vela, the official who could pass these rules. Write to your senators to make sure they defend our right to protest by demanding Vela pledge to reject Trump’s proposal.
If enough of us raise our voices, we can stop these rules before Trump tries to silence us.
Thanks for making your voice heard,
Chris Anders
Deputy Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office
No Comments so far
Jump into a conversationNo Comments Yet!
You can be the one to start a conversation.Only registered users can comment.