The First Amendment

"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." This amendment states that the United States can not make a law that limits any of the following rights. The right to freedom of religion , freedom of speech and press. The government can not force people to follow a religion or restrict their freedom of a religious practices. The government can not limit the peoples freedom of speech and press or the right of the people to have a peaceful assembly.

On November 14, 2015, students at the University of Missouri rally together to protest racial hatred. They are allowed to do this because the first amendment gives them the right to gather peacefully. It also gives them the freedom to speak freely without the fear of persecution.

The First amendment was ratified by George Washington along with the rest of the Bill of Rights on December 15 ,1791 . The first amendment was important to the American people because it protected their basic rights

Texas v.s Johnson . The Republican National Convention of 1984 was held in Dallas Texas. Wile the convention was in session Gregory Lee Johnson and a group of political activists protested through the streets. When the protesters reached Dallas city Hall Gregory Lee Johnson poured kerosene on an American flag and burnt it. Gregory was then arrested and convicted under Texas state law. Protected by the first amendment Gregory argued that the burning of the flag was a symbolic speech. The Texas appeals court over turned the conviction but the state of Texas was not satisfied with this decision and took the case the ruling to the United States Supreme Court. The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gregory Lee Johnson. The court agreed that no matter the personal offence, Gregory's actions are protected under the First Amendment.

On March 2, 2014 President Barak Obama addressed the press, which marked the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court Ruling most celebrated defenses of the free press in The New York Times v. Sullivan. This ruling was the important because it ruled that it was not with in the constitution to make statements of malicious intent. In this picture a room full of television and newspaper reporters wait to listen and ask President Obama questions. Because of the first amendment, they can all talk and write about what the president has said.

Citations

www.britannica.com/event/New-York-Times-Co-v-Sullivan
www.government-and-constitution.org/bill-of-rights/bill-of-rights-for-kids
www.uncut.com
www.unconfirmedbreakingnews.com
www.usatoday.com
uscourts.gov

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The First Amendment

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