Why Were 128 Women Arrested For Peacefully Demonstrating? Why Do You Now Need Permission?

[TheMastersNemesis]

Sorry. What the fuck is going on in that you have to get a permit to demonstrate in this country. Will we go back to wire cages where you can demonstrate? Something is radically wrong with what is going on. So if 20,000 people just showed up on the mall spontaneously against the GOP, Trump & Kavanaugh, would the be gassed by swat teams? Perhaps so.

What if 500,000 showed up would Trump and GOP send in the military because they did not have a permit. Somehow the idea that you have to have a permit for a demonstration seems un American.

[raging moderate]

1. "Congress shall make NO law...abridging...the right of the People...to assemble..."

"Congress shall make no law....abridging....the right of the people....peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Amendment I, United States Constitution

[hack89]

2. Where did you get the notion that one can protest anywhere they wish?

the right of protest does not automatically confer the right to enter any space you desire with impunity.

[zipplewrath]

3. Technically, you don't

It's when you start to act in concert that it gets complicated. 500,000 people show up on the mall and just generally occupy public spaces without violating ordinary laws, and they'd be hard to stop. But block traffic, loiter, intimidate other people not involved in the protest, etc. and there will be a judge getting involved.

Alternately of course, in an open area, 20 people are hard to arrest.

[alwaysinasnit]

4. Unfortunately, we have time, place, and manner restrictions on 1st Amendment

https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Time%2C+Place%2C+and+Manner+Restrictions