The protests surrounding the police killings of black men have provided fertile ground for a discussion of First Amendment issues and today Providence, Rhode Island, is the latest example.

In Providence, the First Amendment allows this:

but not this:

Why not?

Because hes a Providence firefighter and he saluted the flag-burning while standing in the citys public safety building.

Today, Boston.com reports officials say hell be disciplined.

They have their first amendment right to exercise, but while they are on-duty public safety officers cannot be inciting a crowd of protesters, Providence public safety commissioner Steve Pare tells the Providence Journal.

Bob Collins has been with Minnesota Public Radio since 1992, emigrating to Minnesota from Massachusetts where he was vice president of programming for Berkshire Broadcasting Company. Previously, he was an editor at the RKO Radio network in New York, and WHDH Radio in Boston. He was the founder of MPR News website.

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The limits of free speech in protests