OUR RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH IS BEING TRAMPLED

The recent Town Hall organized by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) billed itself as a public forum. However, it quickly revealed itself as an exercise in the violent and selective suppression of free speech. Evidence in support of this assertion is available in the captured video which appeared all over the internet. It also points to the fact that it takes courage to speak out these days. After all, who would raise their voice when faced with the threat of being wrestle to the ground and evicted for daring to speak against the majority.

In school, we all learned about the Bill of Rights or the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Article 1 states “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.”

Despite this constitutionally protected right, the Trump Administration and his minions are implementing a full-on assault on free speech and freedom of the press. In his article in the Huffington Post Donald Trump Is Tearing Up the First Amendment, reporter Paul Blumenthal, writes “President Donald Trump is engaged in an all-out assault on speech rights aimed at forcing every sector of society to adopt his administration’s viewpoint or risk discrimination…” In the same article, Blumenthal quotes senior staff attorney Ramya Krishnan at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University who said, “This is part of a broader pattern by this administration to target and retaliate against its political opponents based on speech and criticism they disagree with.”

This trampling of the First Amendment by the Trump Administration also encourages his supporters to follow suit. Which helps to explain the motivations of the KCRCC at their recent town hall. It shows that the KCRCC only protects the speech of those who blindly align with their positions.

ATTEND A REAL TOWN HALL

On Sunday, March 23, at 2:00 PM, the Kootenai Democrats will host a Real Town Hall. It takes place at Templin’s Resort in Post Falls. This forum features Former US Representatives Larry La Rocco and Richard Stallings. These elder statesmen will offer a fresh perspective on what is going on in Washington DC. They will also discuss its political effects here in Idaho. These formerly elected officials will use their legislative experience to explain what is behind this destruction of our government and the rule of law. Moderating the discussion will be former Judge, Patrick Costello.

I invite you to RSVP to attend this Real Town Hall. I also encourage you to invite your family and friends to join you in the discussion. Together, we will get our questions answered. Submit a Question.