President Donald Trump posted this on Truth Social on Tuesday: “All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Opinion
Trump fails to grasp that, here in the United States, thanks to the First Amendment to our Constitution, any peaceable protest, demonstration or assembly is, on its face, legal. It is one of our inalienable rights as citizens to get together and express our dissatisfaction with our government.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I wish there were as many fire-eating zealots willing to go to the mat for our First Amendment rights as there are those willing to defend our Second Amendment rights.
Perhaps those folks will come out of the woodwork and take to the streets when our First Amendment rights are threatened by the government, as Trump’s tirade against free assembly is proposing. Maybe then those freedoms will be defended as strenuously as gun ownership.
If Trump has studied our history (which I doubt) he’d realize that it was assembled colonists freely speaking their minds that began to topple the English crown. After the toppling was completed with gunpowder and muskets, “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” was enshrined in our Bill of Rights so that we could prevent future tyranny.
Maybe that’s why Trump is so nervous about free assembly and free speech.
Trump sure doesn’t seem to be too hung up on the “peaceably” condition in the First Amendment. After all, he characterized the Jan. 6 riot as “a day of love when nothing went wrong.” Immediately upon taking office, he pardoned the imprisoned “agitators” of that protest.
There is a rank hypocrisy in condoning the imprisonment or exile of one bunch of agitators, while pardoning and celebrating another. It appears almost as if Trump approves of one form of dissent and unrest among one subset of citizens, and disapproves of the same in other circumstances by other citizens.
He’s willing to grant civil liberties to one bunch of folks, even when they violently break the law, but ignore our Constitution and trample the liberties of others, depending on his mood.
This is dangerous behavior for a head of state. It is exactly like a king proclaiming, “I am the state.” This is precisely the kind of crap that demands to be protested by citizens “petitioning the government for a redress of grievances.”
Our Constitution guarantees our right to do just that, whether Trump likes it or not.
It has been 50 years since I last organized campus protests and marched in the streets against government policy. Back then, it was against the war in Vietnam. And my dad, a veteran of WWII, approved of my activism.
If Trump is trying to erode our civil liberties and weaken the Constitution, he has given us ample reason to assemble and protest once again. If we don’t resist government when it tries to take away our freedom to protest government, we don’t deserve to call ourselves citizens of the United States.
My old agitator’s heart remembers three things from my time in the proverbial protest trenches. First, tear gas won’t kill you. Secondly, women dig rebels. And most importantly, there is a deep sense of patriotism and satisfaction that one gets from defending the Constitution in the streets and on the campuses of America.
Good to see Mr. Miller on this platform. I know this might be a weird question but the moment he announced his resignation from CSD I was mysteriously unblocked (after more than a year) by their social media page. Anyone else have that experience too? Any idea if that was mere coincidence or something else?
Rod Miller has finally found his true home. Many of us have known it for years, but
it is always better that he found it on his own without being told.
“or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government
for a redress of grievances.
Nobody has the right to block streets, highways,sidewalks, occupy buildings, threaten, intimidate, and harass people. Ask the Jewish students who were
harassed and threatened at several universities.
Nobody has the right to stop people from going to work, or coming home from work. Nobody has the right to impede people’s movements without a warrant, court order or good probable cause (stopping a rape).
The protests I saw in 2020 looked anything but peaceful, but you could always ask
the people who lost their businesses that got burned and the police who were injured.
Imagine driving home from work and the highway is blocked by pipeline workers
who lost their job due to one of Biden’s executive orders.
That will never happen, because working people don’t have time to block highways. There out looking for their next job.
Are some protests illegal? If they are not supported by the constitution, I would say so.
It is a joy to join the comments here. I know you all exist but you don’t speak frequently. However it is now time to join together and return sanity to our elections and our communities. To run the extremists out on a rail and reclaim this state. We have a conservative history. We always believe that interference has no place in political or social venues. Live and let live. Do what is right. Listen and learn. Share in making concessions when the conversation affects everyone. Don’t marginalize others because you don’t understand. Get the education to underdstand instead. Be a neighbor to all. We have very long streets so meet me half way. And above all retain the the division between religion and government. As a multicultural and diverse state and country we must accept and respect differing views. We have to live with each other and it is easier if the respect becomes a two way street.
Rod has always done this. And you know he is willing to listen. He also reminds us how to learn.
Very glad you have joined Wyo File Rod.
I to, stood in the trenches, and some streets of America, during the Sixty’s and redressing our greivences of that specific time and space, and to top it off, drafted. Although I had strong grievances and moral outrage against the Federal Government in place at that time, I went Navy, to appease my father, a World War two Marine, in the Pacific. His attitude at that time was, your country calls, you go. I still at my age today, feel just as strongly now, as then, considering the current attempt by this President to squash my Constitutional protections. Even at 74, I will gladly exercise my freedom of speech and the ability to assemble, and protest against my Government’s, local, state, and Federal. The ground swell is forming, I feel it, and they know not what is forming among we the people. Not thousands, millions. The time for sitting by and talking is over, rise up and be heard!
I think you have a serious upgrade in venue, Rod. I look forward to seeing more of your work. Thank you Wyofile,
I was there then and I am with you now – and it’s true – women dig rebels!
I’m elated that Rod Miller and his trusty team of horses, Pen and Ink, have moved to new pastures. Here’s to continued crusty commentary that tells it like it is. Robert Waggener, Laramie
Welcome Mr.Miller and thank you Wyofile!
Oh My Gosh Rod, you mean there are actually Amendments before and after the 2nd, who knew!? Trump and his cult have always viewed the Constitution as a document of convenience that can and should be disregarded if it doesn’t fit their narrative du joir. Thanks Rod, see you in the trenches.
Good job, Rod. Well done!
Thank you for that Rod. Thank you Wyofile. We need to hear more about what people are thinking!
The last time the “Left” was organized and motivated to protest en masse ….
The Summer of 2020
It cost this country between an estimated 2 BILLION dollars or more, and countless lives.
https://www.newsweek.com/americans-deserve-know-who-funded-blm-riots-opinion-1787460
We can count the countless lives lost, Mr Ginter. It was around 25 people, not including the man who was slowly asphyxiated to death by a rouge LE officer, while being filmed. That killing of the unarmed man kicked off the riots. 25 is 25 too many, but needs some perspective. We lost over 1M Americans due to the botched and incompetent team orange 1.0 response to COVID. 1M is more than 25, by about 999,975 for perspective. The 1M does not include those who died taking bleach, horse de-wormer or other 4Chan remedies for COVID, but certainly more than 25. Countering the intentional misinformation associated with the internet PhDs during those dark times was not a violation of the 1st Amendment, just good science.
The 06 JAN riots on the other hand were not a result of an unarmed man being killed, COVID, or any real event for that matter. They resulted from a draft dodger selling a blatant lie to gullible traitors. We are not the same.
Thank you, Coy, for being clear and true.
I recognize that statements like these with evidence brokered by The Heritage Foundation and presented by Newsweek are not interested in changing perspective. For many adults, on both sides of the fence, it is difficult to recognize that we have a difficult time letting facts get in the way of our opinion. Nonetheless, a few moments of research yielded these findings:
2020 saw record unemployment numbers where we saw prime age employment percentages drop radically, leading to uncertainty and incivility [1]. This was further exacerbated by marked increases in reported anxiety (50% respondents reporting) and depression (44% respondents reporting) [2]. The general population of the United States watched the mishandling of early COVID prevention tactics largely due to executive functions beyond their control [3].
In the same time period black Americans (12.1% of the USA population) and white Americans (57.8% of the USA population), saw 13,654 and 9,818 homicides, respectively [4][5]. This stark contrast in violence was highlighted by multiple, high profile incidents where black Americans Breonna Taylor and George Floyd were unjustly killed by law enforcement [6].
The 25 deaths you speak of were largely inflicted onto protestors by white Americans, which is pointed out by a link in the article you shared. These “anti-protestors” drove through crowds, brandished firearms, and otherwise senselessly killed people protecting their rights while also contributing to the financial damages [7].
We need to stop basing our opinions on headlines and start looking at the evidence. It is not nearly as convenient, but maybe we can develop an understanding instead of being correct so we can address the problems pragmatically and without violence and destruction.
–sources:
[1] https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/gdp-per-person-employed-constant-ppp?tab=chart&country=~USA
[2] https://academic.oup.com/tbm/article/11/10/1947/6211046?login=false
[3] https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2020/5-ways-the-us-botched-the-response-to-covid-19
[4] https://maps.geo.census.gov/ddmv/map.html
[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cases_of_police_brutality_by_date
[7] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/31/americans-killed-protests-political-unrest-acled
–
Hitler, Franco, Mussolini (______________ <- insert your favorite dictator). I predict Kent State x100 with a madman like Trump at the helm. There's nothing "freedom" about this guy and I predict dire consequences up ahead for the American people. We're going to see insanity and the test will be, will the National Guard take his orders and gun down first amendment protests. It's going to be a bumpy ride and screw you, MAGA supporters
Yahoo! A voice for protest. Wyofile needs this!
The First Amendment was wholly ignored and defecated upon by Government throughout America’s covid nightmare. Government/Corporations actively instructed media/social outlets for people exercising the RIGHT of Free Speech to be censored, banned, demonized, defamed, libeled, ostracized, etc. For Three years (2020-2023) the 1st Amendment of the Constitution was trampled like no other time in American History by a Fascist Government.
I perused your writings from those dark times Mr. Miller, you didnt seem so riled up in defense of the 1st back then.
Of course Rod didn’t protest against media controls during Covid. Rod knows and I know that regardless of personal philosophies that Exceptional circumstances require exceptional measures. and those measures are not Fascist when they are needed to keep people alive. Bogus infor was rampant and still is. Many examples of administrations taking exceptional measures to save lives. It’s called governing.
Do you have a right to kill my elderly mother? Get a grip with your conspiracy theories and do what’s right, like get a shot and put on a mask. I guess that’s hard, huh?
Well said. I particularly like your comparison of first and second amendment attitudes. A quote I found from Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (a favorite of many ultra conservative folk) in Heller v. District of Columbia says “the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited.” The same is said for the First Amendment. As Americans, we should appreciate all rights in the bill of rights and allow civil discourse when debating them. Thank for giving us some thoughts to ponder and get our brains working.
WELCOME !
Thanks WyoFile for giving Rod this venue. His important voice needs an audience. I don’t always agree with his opinions, but his championship for our constitution is to be applauded.
“My old agitator’s heart remembers three things from my time in the proverbial protest trenches. First, tear gas won’t kill you. Secondly, women dig rebels. And most importantly, there is a deep sense of patriotism and satisfaction that one gets from defending the Constitution in the streets and on the campuses of America.”
Rod, this is now hanging on my wall. Bravo, lets get another run for governor going.
God bless Rod Miller. And God bless the First Amendment.
I’ve always enjoyed Rod’s comments and he is right on now. I can’t believe how many people have nothing to say about Trump’s wrecking ball approach to fixing things.
This is the kind of person we need in Wyoming politics. I know it’s difficult, but we really need to vote out the fake christians, our federal trump genuflectors and those that think that public land is theirs. We need people like Mr. Miller to help preserve our democracy and respect our rights.
Amen Rod. Let me know when you’re taking to the streets and I’ll. Come and join you.
Thank you, Rod!
Well written and so glad to have you in the fight, Rod. WY conservativism consists of two and only two tenets, perfectly incapsulated by Wilhoit:
“[WY]Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”
The same team orange apologists who rush in to save the guns after a school shooting, citing the US Constitution’s 2 Amendment, unsurprisingly will wipe their flabby backsides with the same document’s 1st Amendment when their crimes are wrenched out of the darkness and exposed to the light. Exercise your US Constitutional rights good people of WY, because WY’s freedom caucus is bent on taking them away. It took one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours, and 40 minutes for Hitler to systematically disable and dismantle a constitutional republic through constitutional means. Fight. Back.
thank you, rod. good stuff here.
Amen Rod! May your “barbaric yawp” resound through the din.
The world needs more Walt Whitman. Well done.
As a retired US History teacher I have found myself physically cringing with each new executive order.
Thank you! I want to know the process to remove/recall our present members of Congress. I call their offices, leave messages, fill out their online forms, etc then get either no reply (looking at you, Harriet) or a watered down nothing written by some Beltway PR firm. Unless our members of Congress tell the president that his policies are hurting our neighbors and state, and they won’t stand for it, they are not fulfilling their constitutionally mandated role – to be a brake on the executive branch. I want someone who will represent Wyoming people and our customs and culture.
Our democracy rests upon the Constitution and the principles embedded in, not the least is the freedom of speech. This freedom gives us the right to raise our voices in defense of democracy and opposition to an autocracy. It is more important than ever to make our voices be heard because the current office holder will trample on our rights and democracy if only we let him.
It was crickets while the Biden administration was paying partisan news outlets and stong arming social media to keep conservatives quiet. Now that Trump insinuated that liberal riots will be met with the full force of the law, you’re all about the first ammendment.
Great point about getting 2nd Amendment people to support the 1st Amendment.
True, Biden’s people have been undermining the 1st Amendment as well, but they do theirs very stealthily, while Trump proclaims his loud and clear.
Yea- you might be confusing a riot with a protest. Riots are typically violent and people are hurt and killed – like January 6th and Charlottesville, where Trump said there were “fine people on both sides” (all those fine White Supremisists). And a protest is just about everything else….
Actually, Mr James, the Sinclair media conglomerate was full throated and relentless in the mostly untruthful (see: lies) about President Biden and his administration. The GQP apologists were regulars on every news program, also spreading falsehoods and often outright fascist propaganda. From alt-right podcasts, Youtube influencers, WSJ hacks down to Fox Newz and OAN, the anti-Biden media blitz ran unabated for 4 years. Writing there were ‘crickets’ is an intellectually dishonest comment.
C’mon the US Government was asking for two things; one to remove naked pictures of Joe Biden’s son and to rightly question whether the “laptop” was a Russian operation or not. Those are legitimate requests and ones you would make if your family was involved.
In spite of your beliefs the “laptop” was never authenticated by the FBI and was clearly compromised.
It was conservative crickets when the right-wing rioters who attacked our capital and police were not met with the full force of the law.
Conservative crickets equaling the silence of liberal crickets as 2 billion dollars damage nationwide was done in 2020 BLM riots, DURING a pandemic that magically wasnt a “superspreader” event in the eyes of those left leaning crickets.
Most liberal or left-wing leaders did condemn the violence during the protests. Mere days after the protests began, a guy named Joe (maybe you remember him) said, “Protesting such brutality is right and necessary. It’s an utterly American response. But burning down communities and needless destruction is not. Violence that endangers lives is not.” Kamala Harris expressed support for the protestors, but stated, “We should not confuse them with those looting and committing acts of violence”. In a way, Jake is wrong as well. Many conservatives did condemn the attack on the Capitol immediately afterwards but quickly changed their tune when they realized that doing so might threaten their chances at re-election.
Examples please
I am so happy to see your voice here. Truth is a lost art- your columns are eye opening & thought provoking. Thank you Rod for your WORD!
Trump knows very well what could happen if citizens peacefully assemble to protest the government. Brother Vlad has coached him well on the matter. Those marching at colleges and universities to protest injustices by our government and large corporations are not Donny’s type of protesters. He prefers attacks on the US Capital, where his type of protesters pooped in the hallways, broke windows and destroyed personal property of senators.
Hell yes! We are a republic not a communist totalitarian country. Give’m hell Rod!
Count me in and I will use my VOICE!!!!Noooooooo more Orange Man!