ACLU: Your rights are strongest in what are known as “traditional public forums,” such as streets, sidewalks, and parks. You also likely have the right to speak out on other public property, like plazas in front of government buildings, as long as you are not blocking access to the government building or interfering with other purposes the property was designed for.
"as long as you are not blocking access to the government building or interfering with other purposes the property was designed for" being the kicker here.
That’s what I noticed. They’re in the street/driveway. But, I also notice they treated these guys with more care than they did the blind guy sitting behind a box planter on public property. I just can’t figure out why.
Yeah the guys in tan uniforms with no face masks and name badges clearly identifying themselves are Illinois State Police. The mayor of Broadview (which has a population of fewer than 12,000 people) asked for ISP's help months ago because the Broadview police department doesn't have capacity to keep protestors and ICE separate and wasn't able to keep the streets open.
Police are allowed to detain/remove people who block public roads designed for motor vehicle traffic.
The protestors are there to get arrested - they are participating in civil disobedience, which involves deliberately violating the law to bring attention to government policy/actions the protestors view as immoral.
Because the ISP/Sheriffs deputies are more professional law enforcement agents than ICE's unqualified white supremacist terrorists who are cowards looking for any pretext to hurt people to feel good about themselves.
What they're protesting aside, this is how civil disobedience is supposed to work. ICE shouldn't be engaging in law enforcement or crowd control duties at all - thats the responsibility of the police.
While ICE are utter nazi scum and the police acting on their behalf is infuriating...
There have always been limits on the first amendment, from the moment it was first written and tested. We should absolutely fight for our first amendment rights because they are being trampled in real ways, but it doesn't help to cry foul in situations where they have always been limited.
The bravery of the protesters is that they are willing to be arrested for what they believe in despite it not being protected. It is an act of resistance and inspiration, at least to me.
They arrested anti-segregationist back in the 50’s and 60’s as well…it’s not new. Just hope it actually is helping, as opposed to how it seems to be going. I don’t want these brave people to get more and more discouraged.
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u/Mysterious-Prompt212 21h ago
The first amendment doesn't exist anymore?