“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.” — the First Amendment to the United States Constitution ≤ ≤ ≤ Last week, millions of citizens across our country have exercised their First Amendment right of the people to peaceably assembly. In our state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has supported the protesters — though the governor is quick to separate protesters from rioters – and encouraged them to exercise their First Amendment right to protest even though the governor is quick to admit that doing so will likely lead to a spike in COVID-19 infections. The governors are right. Protesters, including those who have assembled peaceably in Jamestown and Dunkirk, have a right to raise their voices in a peaceful manner. Those who have assembled — particularly those who assembled while practicing appropriate social distancing and worn masks — should be commended. Why, though, is there an incongruous handling of another right enumerated in the First Amendment? The right to peaceably assemble, after all, […]
