By Sonya Kazen
The US Constitution, Amendment 1/Bill of Rights ratified 1791 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 to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.
These rights have been guaranteed in the U.S. for 234 years, but now are being sorely tested under the current Administration and complicit Republican Congress. Trump’s personal lawsuits against media; threats to pull FCC licenses and the de-funding of public television and radio; levying huge fines on universities that allow demonstrations against Israel’s genocide in Gaza; commandeering boards of directors and ending support for the arts, museums and libraries and the stripping of content deemed to present “woke” ideology; firing government scientists and researchers who dare to speak out about climate change and the safety of vaccines; and ordering federal troop deployments to fight non-existent runaway crime in Democrat-led cities and squash peaceful demonstrations are all maneuvers designed to instill fear, curtail free speech and inquiry, and undermine the freedom to peaceably assemble.
NSPM-7 the National Security Presidential Memorandum Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence was recently issued. It designates Antifia – which is a philosophy rather than an organized group – as a “Domestic Terrorist Organization,” and provides for federal prosecution of any groups, individuals and funders whom the current Administration believes to be fomenting “political violence, terrorism or conspiracy against rights”. The government is now compiling a secret domestic terror list. In the meantime, the violent protesters convicted of storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021 which resulted in several deaths, many injuries, and almost $3 million in damages have all received full Presidential pardons.
I fear we are entering another McCarthy-type era. Groups and individuals who express “anti-capitalist” or “anti-Christian views” or “extremist positions on immigration, race, and gender,” are likely to be targeted as “anti-American”. Those who voice opposition to invading Venezuela or support for environmental protection could be silenced. LGBTQ persons will be pushed back into the closet. Books not in line with the conservative agenda could be banned. It is only a matter of time before citizens are asked to report on the beliefs and activities of their neighbors. Those who oppose government policies could be jailed or eliminated for participating in peaceful demonstrations, expressing views on social media, or writing opinion articles such as this. (Note: phrases in “quotes” are from the NSPM-7).
Our rights to speak freely, to peacefully assemble, and to petition the government to redress grievances are on the chopping block. I urge you all to exercise your first amendment rights. Speak truth to power. I shall continue to protest proudly!