CounterPunch Exclusives

CounterPunch Exclusives

No, Governor, You Can’t Cancel Our First Amendment Rights

Photograph Source: Gage Skidmore – CC BY-SA 4.0

There’s not much ambiguity in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  It reads: “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.”

Yet, as just reported, Montana’s Gov. Greg Gianforte has decided he has the power to simply cancel Montanans’ right to “peaceably assemble” and “to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”  How?  By restricting permits to gather at the Capitol — and “all state-owned or leased spaces” in the Capitol Complex — to weekdays only, between “7 a.m. and 6 p.m.”

Yep, you read that right.  The old saying that “when fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a Bible” has once again proved all too true as our Bible-clutching,........

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