By snoadmin
The First Amendment of our Constitution is one of the most valued amendments and one of the most debated. With the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, the heated question as to what exactly is protected under the First Amendment is being widely considered. WBC is well known for picketing funerals with distressing signs with statements such as “God Hates Fags,” “God Killed Your Son” and “Pray for More Dead Soldiers,” to name a few.
As most of us can agree, these signs cross the line, especially when displayed at a time when families and friends should be able to grieve the loss of loved ones peacefully. However, as stated in the Huffington Post, the “First Amendment exists to not only allow, but to foster and protect debate — even caustic, hostile, hurtful and ‘morally flawed’ debate,” a statement that must be understood in cases like this one. Yes — as stated before — the majority of the public can agree that such picketing is largely inappropriate, but there are at least a few people who support WBC’s beliefs. We must acknowledge that every citizen of the United States has the right to voice their opinion — humane or not — under certain circumstances.
Last year, a similar case took place known as the “Irvine 11,” during which 11 students of the Muslim Student Union from both UC Irvine and UC Riverside interrupted Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren’s speech given at UCI. The Orange County District Attorney’s office charged the students on Friday, Feb. 5, with two misdemeanors: the conspiracy to disturb a meeting and the disturbance of the meeting.
Oren was given an hour and a half to speak and answer any following questions, and after viewing the video, Oren was able to finish his speech and could have answered questions, although he chose not to do so. The time was wasted when a faculty member assumed the podium and strongly reprimanded the audience members who were speaking up against Oren. However, the “Irvine 11” surrendered themselves to police officials immediately after their brief protests. So, can the spur of anti-Oren remarks really qualify as an “interruption?”
According to the Los Angeles Times, a 2002 World Union of Jewish Students’ guideline for Israel advocacy, entitled Hasbara Handbook, states that “name calling” is the first of “seven basic propaganda devices” activists are allowed to partake in. This shows little difference between what the Hasbara Handbook deems appropriate and what the “Irvine 11” did during Oren’s speech.
University officials sent an e-mail to all UCI students stating that, if any student, “without authority from law, willfully disturbs or breaks up an assembly or meeting that is not unlawful in its character, can be charged with a misdemeanor.”
This past Saturday evening, more than 200 protestors gathered at the OC Islamic Institute in spite of the charges against the all-Muslim “Irvine 11.” The case will be heard Friday, during which demonstrators plan to gather outside the courthouse in all black attire and tape over their mouths, not only signifying the protest is being carried out peacefully, but also accentuating that they cannot say what they wish in fear of being prosecuted as the “Irvine 11” did.
LA Times Mark LaVine wrote with reasonable logic, “The ‘Irvine 11′ played into deeply ingrained stereotypes of irrational and unreasonably angry Muslim men. But should they be punished without clear standards in place and when similarly rowdy protests in the past led neither to arrests nor university discipline?”
In the WBC ruling, the Supreme Court is protecting our nation’s right to free expression, speech, assembly and worship, a right that should be granted to the “Irvine 11.” We must tolerate all demonstrations in order to avoid limitations on the First Amendment.
Disclaimer: The Daily 49er is not responsible for Postings made on www.daily49er.wpengine.com. Persons commenting are solely responsible for Postings made on this website. Persons commenting agree to the Terms of Use of the website. If Postings do not abide by the Rules of Conduct or Posting Regulations as listed in the Postings Policy, the Daily 49er has all rights to delete Postings as it deems necessary. The Daily 49er strongly advises individuals to not abuse their First Amendment rights, and to avoid language suggestive of hate speech. This site also encourages users to make Postings relevant to the article or other Postings.
Disclaimer: The Daily 49er is not responsible for Postings made on www.daily49er.wpengine.com. Persons commenting are solely responsible for Postings made on this website. Persons commenting agree to the Terms of Use of the website. If Postings do not abide by the Rules of Conduct or Posting Regulations as listed in the Postings Policy, the Daily 49er has all rights to delete Postings as it deems necessary. The Daily 49er strongly advises individuals to not abuse their First Amendment rights, and to avoid language suggestive of hate speech. This site also encourages users to make Postings relevant to the article or other Postings.
