Waves roll in to East Beach, in Galveston, Texas, from the body of water formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico.

An important principle in the First Amendment, affirmed time and time again by the courts, is that government cannot pick and choose what speech it allows to be free.

So, for example, a local government can’t deny an application for a demonstration permit just because it will be a rally criticizing the mayor. The National Parks Service can’t decide that a rally in support of apple pie on The Mall in Washington is OK, but one for civil rights is not.

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

This principle, known as content neutrality, isn’t just some abstract legal notion. It goes to the heart of why the First Amendment is essential in a free society. To put it simply: Any government restrictions on the press, on free speech more generally, and on freedom of assembly can’t be based on........

© Times Union