I do not understand the "freedom to assemble"?

[kentuck]

I must have been mistaken?

In reading the First Amendment, I always thought the "freedom to assemble" was the freedom to protest and to march against your government?

I did not think for a moment that the "freedom to assemble" was only guaranteed if you could do it in the face of pepperspray, tear gas, and physical abuse, including thrown to the ground and handcuffed?

When did the government assume the right to keep you from "assembling"? Are you supposed to be able to face all these obstacles if you wish to protest?

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Republicans believe that's the freedom to dissemble /nt

[Permanut]

2. That was before the Constitution went in the shredder.

[Redleg]

3. A good point

My theory of Trump is that he will do what he wants until he is stopped.

[DemocracyForever]

5. The murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good...

combined with all of the protests happening across the country in red and blue states is beginning to have an effect. We need to keep it up through November and then trounce the Trump/Nazis in the midterms.

[DBoon]

4. They think "Freedom to assemble" means...

...silently standing in an authorized church and offering "thoughts and prayers"

[sarisataka]

6. Know Your Rights

[Hugin]

8. All three of them. n/t

[rsdsharp]

7. I take your point, and fully agree with it.

That said, the actual language is “peaceably to assemble.” Trump will argue that anything other than bending the knee isn’t peaceable. It’s nonsense, of course, but so are all of the Trumpian positions.

[dickthegrouch]

9. Constitution in the shredder does not mean repealed!!

Unless or until they actually repeal it, they are subject to the Constitution, no matter what the SCROTUMS say.

[NutmegYankee]

10. Technically, it's to assemble for any reason.

Getting together for a party (whether political or just friends), or for a hobby, or a convention are also covered under freedom of assembly. It's considered to cover the right of free association.

[Igel]

11. Perhaps it just meant the "freedom to assemble."

Without regard as to purpose?

Because that would include peaceful assembly, it would include churches, it would include knitting clubs and it would include circles devoted to political discussion. Because if it only means a small subset of those, then the other "assemblies" are subject to being banned.

The Constitution has been termed a "glorious liberty document". May it be so. I stand with Douglass on that count.