Do Black Lives Matter Protests follow the First Amendment?

     The first amendment in the United States Constitution gives citizens six fundamental rights: freedom from religion, freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Today, I will be delving deeper into the first amendment right of speech and assembly in relation to Black Lives Matter protests. 

        In Portland, Oregon a group of protestors threatened to burn a young couple's house down for displaying the American flag outside of their house. According to the Bedrock Principles, first amendment protection is not absolute. You can not go out and threaten people and expect to be protected by the first amendment. Threatening people is against the law and you can be prosecuted for it. However, it is OK to attend BLM protests and express outrage for police brutality. It is our right to criticize the government and let them know that the lawless racial targeting and killing of people disgusting and something needs to be done about it. All of the great changes in our society have been a direct result of people speaking up and demanding that change must take place. For example, the 19th amendment giving woman the right to vote was passed because of all the outspoken people in the country speaking out. Most of the speech happening in response to police brutality for the BLM movement is peaceful and protected under the first amendment. 

                                    

              Pictured above is BLM protestors marching through a residential area in Portland, Oregon.

       Unfortunately, although the majority of BLM protestors are peaceful the chaotic ones are more often portrayed in the news. The first amendment protects the right to assemble, as long as it is peaceful. We are seeing the difference between what is peaceful and what isn't especially now with the multitude of BLM protests that are occurring. In Oregon, BLM protestors used random furniture around a predominantly white neighborhood as fuel for fire. This is crossing a line that is obviously property destruction and not peaceful. Even when a small percentage of people are setting things on fire in the name of Black Lives Matter, it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of many people. 

                                             Pictured above is BLM protestors in Portland, Oregon. 

    The Black Lives Matter movement has ignited a fire in many across the nation and have allowed for many necessary uncomfortable conversations to take place. Most people have abided by the first amendment when it comes to speaking out and protesting on the matter. However, there is a small percentage of people who ruin the message for countless across the country. If everyone acted in a way that was protected under the first amendment, I personally believe more change would happen in this country.