MOUNT VERNON — The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution affords the right to worship as one chooses and the right for strippers to peacefully protest outside a church. Wednesday night Knox County Assistant Prosecutor Chip McConville explored the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right to assemble.
Part Ten: Search,arrest warrants September 16, 2010
Part Nine: Right to bear arms September 16, 2010
Part Eight: Bill of Rights starts with expression September 9, 2010
Part Seven: Constitution ratified on promise of Bill of Rights September 9, 2010
Part Six: Guarding legal rights September 2, 2010
Part Five: Freedom of religion September 2, 2010
Part Four: Small parts have big meaning August 26, 2010
Part Three: Evolution of ‘We the people’ August 26, 2010
Part One: Creating a perfect union August 19, 2010
Part Two: Separation of powers August 19, 2010
Series to touch on Constitution August 13, 2010
U.S. Constitution National Archives
“Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition of government for a redress of grievances,” the First Amendment states.
“These short, few words give us some of the most important rights that we have as Americans,” McConville said. “There has been a great deal of judge-made case law that flushes out just what this part of the Constitution means.”
The writers of the U.S. Constitution knew it was important to protect the freedoms of speech, press and to peacefully assemble — that importance was proved in placing these rights in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“Political liberty and political speech is the basis upon which democracy was built,” he said. “Political speech was hampered in the colonies, and in Great Britain, by the crown.”
At that time, one needed a license from the King giving authority to publish newspapers or work in specific professions.
samantha.scoles@mountvernonnews.com