First amendment rights be damned...

[Soph0571]

Trump appointed Judge rules that Trump, and his flunkies, did not deliberately conspire to remove BLM protesters (violently) so he could strut up to St John's Episcopal Church and hold a bible upside down for pictures to show godly he is. Just like Jesus.

In the ruling the Trump appointed Judge states: ' These allegations, taken as true, do not show sufficient "events, conversations, or documents indicating an agreement or meeting of the minds' amongst the defendants to violate (plaintiffs') rights based on (their) membership in a protected class. Merely alleging that the defendant officials communicated, without alleging any details of those communications that suggest an unlawful agreement, cannot justify inferring the requisite agreement for a... conspiracy.'

As Scott Michelman from the ACLU said 'Today´s ruling essentially gives the federal government a green light to use violence, including lethal force against demonstrators, as long as federal officials claim to be protecting national security, not only is this decision a stunning rejection of our constitutional values and protestors´ First Amendment rights, but it effectively places federal officials above the law.'

So much shit still needs to be cleaned up from the Trump era. *sighs*

[captain queeg]

1. As long as the rethugs are in power. They'll change their tune if Dems start utilizing federal power

The same way

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. I hope they appeal. . . . nt

[gab13by13]

3. MF45 appointed 232 Nazi judges.

...or should I say, The Heritage Foundation and Federalist Society.

[Ingersollman]

4. But

aren't you needlessly repeating yourself?

[masmdu]

5. He did NOT hold the bible upsidedown

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRLHZNH5CyLSYORRbd6RnzLrcfmbVDctiKkxw&usqp=CAU

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wral.com/fact-check-biden-wrong-about-trump-holding-bible-upside-down/19299555/%3fversion=amp

[SledDriver]

6. He didn't have the protesters tear gassed so he could hold a photo op.

He staged a photo op so he could have the protesters tear gassed.

[stopdiggin]

7. no. what the ruling said was that the

suit produced zero evidence of "conspiracy." The "stunning rejection of constitutional values" is invention and rhetorical excess brought in in attempt to discredit, without in any way addressing, the ruling itself.

[Sympthsical]

8. The DOJ actually confirmed this

Biden's DOJ.

Don't hug a narrative so tight you can't let go.

[brooklynite]

9. Did you bother to read the ruling?

"Taking the allegations of the complaint as true, as the Court must when ruling on a motion to dismiss, the plaintiffs have plausibly stated a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for First Amendment violations by Arlington County and District of Columbia officials. According to the complaints, the defendants used force, without warning, to break up a crowd of peaceful protestors who were exercising their First Amendment rights in Lafayette Square, a historic and “quintessential public forum,” Doe, 968 F.2d at 87, which provides a unique situs for the exercise of First Amendment rights,” A Quaker Action Grp., 516 F.2d at 725. As alleged, the defendants prohibited all expressive activities in Lafayette Square without any basis at all; they left open no alternative channels; and they forcibly dispersed protestors because of the plaintiffs’ exercise of their protected First Amendment rights. Reasonable officers would have known that such alleged actions violated clearly established law. Thus, the plaintiffs’ claims for damages against the Arlington County and D.C. officials survive the motions to dismiss."