Freedom of speech protected by Constitution | ChronicleOnline.com – Citrus County Chronicle

America has a long tradition of demonstrations to oppose unAmerican policies dating back to March 5, 1770, when a group of Boston citizens gathered to protest the British in Boston.

The protest deteriorated into a riot and when the British shot 11 Boston protesters, it became the Boston Massacre.

A few years later, the Sons of Liberty protested the British governments tax on tea. They gathered at Boston Harbor and, disguised as Native Americans, destroyed an entire shipment of tea in Boston Harbor.

The American tradition of publicly protesting their governments action continues today.

My first experience as a protester began in Kentucky in the 1960s. I was a college student in Richmond. The town had one movie theater, and black Americans were limited to sitting in the balcony, the colored section. We protested and picketed the theater until they changed the rules. By the time I left college, the town no longer required black kids to sit upstairs. The demonstrations and boycott forced the theater to allow us all to sit wherever we wanted to sit, as it should be.

Still, the 1960s were turbulent times. Hundreds of marches were held across the nation protesting Americas discriminatory laws. We persevered and eventually laws protecting the rights of all Americans were passed. The demonstrations had a great deal to do with America coming to its senses and changing race-related laws.

Protesting and petitioning government continues today, and it is not limited to progressives.

In 2009, self-proclaimed tea party groups resorted to demonstrations to protest all things Barack Obama. I can recall watching the events on TV. Washington, D.C., protesters had the support of some members of Congress as they demonstrated against the administration of President Obama. I remember listening to Minnesotas crazy acting Rep. Michele Bachmann urging her followers to be louder and even more disruptive as she lied about Obamacare and expressed her disdain for the president.

Therefore, when Trump supporters in Citrus County lament the recent demonstrations at U.S. Rep. Daniel Websters open house, I am not sure how seriously I should take it. We heard thats not who Citrus County is, and this was supposed to be a welcome to our congressman.

This is what America is. It is free citizens petitioning their representatives to listen to them and tell him why they voted as they did. The people at Websters open house were there to ask him important questions.

We know there are numerous problems concerning Russian influence in our elections. Some of Trumps staff lied about their contacts with the Russians. One lied to Congress during his confirmation hearing. One was fired by Trump after revelations he lied about his contact with Russia.

Webster has voted to sweep those concerns under the rug. Why? Why has he consistently voted to keep an investigation partisan and not independent?

We wanted to ask him about the wall and health care, but he left and didnt answer any questions.

Now, according to ABC News, the Trump administration is considering cuts to the Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration, Secret Service and FEMA including cuts to several notable national security and emergency response initiatives to help fund the presidents border wall.

Trump lied about the thousands of Muslims celebrating the fall of the New York towers. He lied about Obama bugging Trump Tower. He lied about his inauguration having largest audience ever. In spite of what he said, Mexico is not going to pay for his wall; we are.

We gathered in the Inverness City Hall to petition our congressional representative as allowed under the First Amendment. The First Amendment says 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 peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Florida Congressional District 11 Indivisible had people attending the meeting, and some of them held signs. The signs said such things as Rubber Stamp Webster or Bannon is not my President, or some were like Andrea Reas of Floral City. She sported a sign saying Get $ out of politics.

Even the Trump supporters held signs saying God Bless Trump.

It was, as Inverness Mayor Bob Plaisted observed, a marvelous demonstration of freedom in America and it was a spectacular demonstration of liberty until it was unilaterally decided signs were not allowed because of building decorum, infringing on our freedoms.

If Rep. Webster keeps his word and has a town hall meeting, Florida Congressional District 11 Indivisible will be there, and we will have signs. Get used to us Citrus County. We want to be heard.

Bob Messersmith is a member of the Indivisible Steering Committee, Florida Congressional District 11.

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