Snoop Dogg’s Lavender video exemplifies power of First Amendment – Los Angeles Loyolan (subscription)

A clown resembling President Donald Trump stands in a parking lot surrounded by classic cars, Doberman Pinschers and gangsters. Rapper and hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg raises a black gun to the clowns head. He pulls the trigger and a flag with the word BANG unfurls from the barrel.

On March 12, rapper and hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg released a controversial music video for his new song Lavender in collaboration with fellow artists BADBADNOTGOOD and Kaytranada in which Snoop does this: He simulates the shooting of President Trump.

The video depicts a society wherein everyone, except Snoop himself, is a clown. The narrative follows a father who is pulled over by a donut-eating police officer smoking marijuana on the drive to work. The police officer proceeds to shoot the man in his car immediately after seeing a toy squirt gun, belonging to the mans son, in his possession. Meanwhile, a civilian observer films the whole encounter on his cell phone.

The song references the issue of police brutality, especially against African American men. Snoop warns that if the problem is not addressed, drastic measures must then be taken.

And the night will fall, this is death to you all The final call, see reparations will be tooken

It is not uncommon for music to hyperbolize violence to this degree. His figurative language is not to be taken literally. It is incredibly unlikely that Snoop is planning to kill every police officer, or even every officer who has committed an offense gilded in bias or bigotry. Yet the sequence in which Snoop pulls the trigger on clown president Ronald Klump has severely angered the president and stirred speculation into the legality of the reference.

Soon after the videos release, Trumps lawyer revealed that the president is expecting an apology, according to CNN. Trump later tweeted suggesting that Snoop would have experienced jail time during Obamas administration.

Snoop responded with an Instagram video in which he says, Ive got nothing to say, mate, in an Australian accent, possibly poking fun at the outrage over his implementation of his first amendment rights. Snoop can wipe his brow, however, because he is in the clear; his parody is protected under the Bill of Rights. Wouldnt you know?!

"When I be putting shit out, I dont ever expect or look for a reaction. I just put it out because I feel like its something thats missing, Snoop said in Billboard. Any time I drop something, Im trying to fill in a void."

Granted, Snoops criticism is a tad heavy-handed, but the message rings loud and clear: Trump is a clown, a person who has a hard time garnering respect. Snoop is allowed to believe that message and to share it with whomever he cares to.

The president of a democratic republic being seemingly unable to take criticism from the people he governs is incredibly problematic for his image. Furthermore, his previous attempts to refute the reporting and interpretations of the media and citizens have in fact made him look silly. Trying to discredit the media as the enemy of the people for spewing falsehoods when his administration is spewing their own alternative facts has promoted overwhelming notions of hypocrisy.

Negative opinions are a staple that come with the position of president, and they cannot be ceased if our rights remain intact. That being said, Trump should either learn to laugh at himself or change his ways. Jail time is not an option for Snoop not for the time being at least.

This is the opinion of Jennifer Lee, a freshman communication studies major from Los Angeles, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email csontag@theloyolan.com.

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Snoop Dogg's Lavender video exemplifies power of First Amendment - Los Angeles Loyolan (subscription)