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By Mike Cuenca | May 6, 2003
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Tuesday's J-W editorial, calling for a ban on political expression on
the streets, would be only absurd had it not been written by people
whose very professional existence is guaranteed by the Constitution
they threaten with that bad idea. In this case, their idea is not only
absurd, but hypocritical—and truly dangerous.
The First Amendment to our Constitution protects the free press.
Whoever wrote that editorial was exercising the press' right to express
opinion freely in the public space, without fear of state reprisal. It
is immoral to exploit that right to argue that we should limit the
rights of others to also dissent in the public space.
The streets are a
public space. If political dissenters wish to make a statement by
taking to the streets, our Constitution and the sacred doctrines of
free expression and free assembly protect their right to do so. The
First Amendment guarantees our right to voice opposition and dissent.
The First Amendment guarantees our right to gather together in the
public space with others who also dissent, to give more weight to our
voices. The First Amendment guarantees us the right to publicly oppose
our government, no matter how popular that government may be.
We are
now in a time when our Constitutional rights are being eroded by those
who would abuse power to protect their power. We must diligently guard
our own right to dissent, even if it means protecting the rights of
those with whom we do not agree.
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