Donald Trump Says Protesters Are Violating His First Amendment Rights

[big_dog]

Source: Yahoo News/ABC News 3 hours ago

Donald Trump is once again shrugging off the escalating violence at his rallies, saying the people protesting his presidential campaign are largely to blame for incidents like those seen on Saturday. The brash billionaire also refused to condemn one of his supporters who punched a protester as he was being removed by security.

“These people are very disruptive,” Trump said on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” on Sunday. “These are not innocent lambs.” The Republican frontrunner said the demonstrators who shut down an Arizona highway leading to the Phoenix suburb where he was scheduled to speak were violating his right to free speech — and the rights of his supporters to come hear him.

“They’re really stopping our First Amendment rights,” Trump said. “If you think about it, George, they block … they blocked a road, they put their cars in front of a road. We had thousands and thousands of people wanting to come. They were delayed for an hour because of these protesters.”

Trump continued: “These are professional agitators, and I think that somebody should say that when a road is blocked going into the event so that people have to wait sometimes hours to get in, I think that’s very [unfair] and there should be blame there, too.” He added: “I think it’s very unfair that these, really, in many cases professional, in many cases sick protesters can put cars in a road blocking thousands of great Americans from coming to a speech and nobody says anything about that.”




Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/politics/trump-vs-protesters-165842356.html

[Warpy]

1. Just like every little cyberbully online

who pisses and moans when a site kicks him off.

He can come crying to me when he's in jail for something other than inciting a riot.

[In_The_Wind]

2. Trump ask for violence. History teaches us that violence leads to violence.

The public has a right to protest.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Right to protest inside a rally includes the right of the rally to evict the protester

... non-violently

[In_The_Wind]

7. It would be proper if Trump's people would evict the protester non-violently.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. There is no right to block a public roadway, whether protesting or not

Blocking a public roadway is stupid. A DrumpFührer rally or any other rally is not a valid reason to block a public roadway.

[In_The_Wind]

8. I agree with you on that point.

[840high]

30. Agree.

[cheapdate]

31. Actually, the federal court ruled after the Selma marches in 1965

that the constitution allows marches on public highways.

The Selma to Montgomery marches used U.S. Route 80. Federal District Court Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. ruled that: "The law is clear that the right to petition one's government for the redress of grievances may be exercised in large groups...and these rights may be exercised by marching, even along public highways."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

38. Yes, marches are like parades and are public and are not sprung as an awful surprise.

But thank you for illuminating an important point of law.

[cheapdate]

39. It was interesting.

Although the precedent in Selma was for a constitutional assembly to petition the government for the redress of grievances -- not exactly the same context as protesting a candidate.

I however fully support protests against Donald Trump, including blocking roads and disrupting rallies. I realize you might not agree, but there it is.

[christx30]

41. Would you support right wingers protesting Clinton or Sanders rallies,

and Christian protestors blocking doors of Women's health clinics on the same grounds?

[cheapdate]

42. No. I wouldn't support them. I'd counter protest them if I had the opportunity.

[jiminvegas]

43. I think it would be okay to block a road

in order to stop Hitler.

[stone space]

52. I agree with this:

There is no right to block a public roadway, whether protesting or not

But not with this:

Blocking a public roadway is stupid.

People do lots of things in nonviolent protests, including blocking reads on occasion.

[big_dog]

13. i think wearing kkk hoods takes it a bit far

the protestors DO NOT have the right to yell fire in a crowded theatre. sometimes even the protestors must be the bigger person and deescalate the situation!

[Kingofalldems]

14. Come on--I know you want to say it.

[In_The_Wind]

16. Good point.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. So what?

[4139]

6. Disruptors are the weapons of choice of the Romulans and Cardassians

I wonder if Trump is a Trekkie?

[merrily]

9. No, steel wool head. They are exercising their own rights, not violating yours.

Protesters are allowed to protest your vile nonsense. Get a clue about how the Bill of Rights actually works before running for President. Then get back to us about violations of your First Amendment rights when someone working for government jails you for no reason other than disagreeing with what you said.

P.S. While you're at it, stop yelling "fire" in a crowded theater.

[gwheezie]

10. Is the government preventing speech or assembly?

What is trump talking about. The police cleared the road and ejected protesters. Protesters were arrested. I'm not seeing the violation of Trumps 1st amendment right.

[LibDemAlways]

11. I disagree with Trump about the professional agitators part.

However, I think blocking a road is very counter-productive, as it pisses people off and creates sympathy for Trump. I'd hate it if it happened to Bernie. Those who hate Trump should express their disgust at the ballot box.

[Lone_Wolf]

12. Trump is an idiot

Amendment I. 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.


The last I knew, protesters aren't Congress passing laws...

[arcane1]

15. I'd hardly call this "news" n/t

[Cryptoad]

17. AS smart as ben says Trump is

u would think he would know that only the Gubermint can violate ur first amend rights.

[0rganism]

33. i try not to assume that the dumb stuff Trump says for the press...

... in any way reflects his actual political views or level of intellect. he's a showman, a huckster, a self-promotional snake oil salesman, and i give him credit for being good at his job. he's knocked off a few career politicians this year who the Very Reasonable People expected to be well in the lead for the nomination by now, can't take that away from him.

he acts like a frat-boy jackass, he proposes a wide variety of things that range from constitutionally prohibited to physically impossible, but his supporters eat it all up because apparently it nourishes and soothes something withered and aching inside them. i'll go out on a limb to say Trump isn't an idiot, he knows exactly how to play the rubes, and he has a fair idea of the consequences of his candidacy, win or lose.

whenever he says something outrageously hypocritical or obviously false, i suggest looking past the surface level to see how it plays for his fans. granted, this can be difficult, as you and i are clearly not his target audience.

[FailureToCommunicate]

18. The government is not stopping you from holding your hateful rallies, Trump.

Since you are running for President of this democracy, wouldn't it be great if you actually understood the basic tenets of our legal system?

Or even read them?

[kacekwl]

19. Tough shit..

sue them dickhead.

[cstanleytech]

20. Someone needs to tell the idiot that the first amendment only protects us from the government

and not other people.

[Kingofalldems]

21. So you are saying the protestors are disruptors

pretending to be Trump fans and then when let in give themselves away?

[Shrike47]

22. Where do you sign up to be a professional protester? What's the pay range?

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

51. $8.50 an hour, last I looked

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/21/union-protest-homeless_n_2170880.html

This was 2012 -- it might be higher now.

[Dont call me Shirley]

23. ...

[davidthegnome]

24. Hmm.

I might have sympathy if he and his supporters weren't beating people up, making Nazi salutes, calling for violence and deliberately inciting it. Mr. Trump is practically begging people to riot all over his face.

No man, you don't get to say "I'll pay the legal bills - hit them again, hit them harder... we'll riot if I don't get the nomination... they should be carried out on stretchers", etc. if you don't want to face the music for being an asshole. Facing the music, in this instance, means gathering large numbers of protesters to your rallies - and yeah, some of them might be violent and even... *GASP* mean.

Professional agitators my ass. In the event that they actually are being paid for it though... I am currently in need of employment. I wouldn't mind holding up some signs at Trump rallies and insulting stupid people. Sounds like fun.

[Jack Rabbit]

25. How many have had there human rights violated at Trump rallies while Der Donald egged it on?

[center]

[/center]

[Stuart G]

26. PLEASE READ...REMEMBER ..HITLER BURNED DOWN THE REICHSTAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Trump was behind the whole thing with the blocked up road. Oh, it will look like it was anti-Trump agitators..and their background will be very hard to verify,,but daman it, it smells like a skunk, and looks like a skunk and waddles like a skunk..guess what? It is a skunk

This smells like something that Trump would put together. Perfect way to destroy so called, "agitators"..so he will look like the victim. Like Hitler..........and

TRUMP IS NO FUCKEN VICTIM..
listen......HE IS THE 'THE PROFESSIONAL AGITATOR !!!!!

if some very sharp research detectives can figure out the true backgrounds of those who stopped the traffic...it may lead right back to Trump..it sounds like the "perfect storm for Trump"

But if it was a made up storm, like in the old movies....and if someone can prove it....Trump could be done, but his followers will not believe it even if it was Trump. Because he would lie about it anyway, even with complete and undeniable facts....

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. Anybody who has so little understanding of the Constitution

shouldn't be anywhere near the White House.

The First Amendment addresses government action restricting speech, dumbass.

[SwankyXomb]

47. +1

We've already had our "Too stupid to understand the Constitution" President for this century.

[They_Live]

65. If we have a test for immigrants to become citizens

I really think we should require presidential candidates to take a test as well.

[no_hypocrisy]

28. Trump in charge of the National Guard . . . .

Oh shit. Wait til you see how he'll treat protesters once he's in office.

[PSPS]

29. There is no "1st amendment" issue involved here at all.

Trump has no "right" not to be protested or even silenced by the people he demonizes.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

40. Highway blockers have no right to block highways. Trump has a right to eject protestors from halls

... eject them non-violently. He booked and paid for the hall. But he can't eject people, especially silent people, on the basis of the color of their skin as was done (in January, I think).

Instead of blocking highways, protesters can protest on the side of the road and make as much noise as they want.

If they block a highway they prevent people from doing what they wanted to, which can include rushing to a hospital to visit a dying mother or other emergencies.

Even if blocking a highway stops only people going to attend a Bernie Sanders rally or a Trump rally, it is interfering with people's rights to free assembly.

So, actually, the highway blockers violated the 9th Amendment rights of the attendees, not Trump's rights and nobody's 1st Amendment rights.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

[stone space]

54. So what? Call the cops and have them arrested.

Highway blockers have no right to block highways.

I'm not seeing the problem, here.

I've blocked roads before (including right in front of the White House).

We didn't claim any "right" to block Pennsylvania Avenue, and we were arrested.

What's the big deal?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

55. What's the big deal??

When you block a highway, unannounced, you block farmers from getting produce to market, people from getting documents to courthouses by deadlines, people from rushing to dying mothers in hospital, workers from saving their jobs by getting to work on time. You get emergency vehicles jammed in the middle of blockages, unable to go forward or backward without taking a lot of time. Gets publicity, sure, but great way to win people to a cause, not.

[stone space]

56. Link?

people from rushing to dying mothers in hospital

I haven't been following the protest as closely as you apparently have.

Is she OK?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

58. Please don't pretend to be obtuse. You are not very good at pretending to be obtuse.

To be crystal clear: The point is that when you block a highway you block people, often people you sympathize with and have common cause with, from doing what they want and rightfully should be able to do. When you block them, you have no idea who or what you are blocking.

The White House, because of its political focus, is a special case that people are prepared for and there are streets to go around it. It's not like a highway.

In another kind of case, blocking a road leading into a munitions plant only affects people working or dealing with the munitions manufacturer. It's not like a highway.

[stone space]

59. Do you have a link or not?

I'm beginning to think that you are just making shit up.

[Frank Cannon]

32. Again, the relevant XKCD...

https://xkcd.com/1357/

[Javaman]

62. LOL I just posted that same one down thread.

[Odin2005]

34. Trump is invoking the GamerGate idiot interpretation of "free speech".

[Sunlei]

35. Your Fellow Republicans have spent at least 100 million to attack you. Go ask your 'Friends' to stop

[sadoldgirl]

36. I agreed with the BLM disruptions and their

blockage of store entrances, because they were on open grounds.

The problem is that - as far as I know - the Dumpster has made
sure that these are private events, which he has payed for.

I still believe that very large protest groups in front of his rally
place with just placards and being totally silent and peaceful
would show up the differences better.

Still, I can understand their anger.

[Jopin Klobe]

37. "The brash billionaire"? ...

... if "brash billionaire" means "God damned fool guilty of incitement to riot" ...

... well, then, yeah ... "brash billionaire" ...

[TowneshipRebellion]

44. If he thinks a few protests against his fascist

policies are violating his first amendment rights then we've got something for him when he comes back to California. He hasn't seen anything yet.

[jiminvegas]

45. I don't think the 1st Amendment means

what Trump thinks it means.

[Zira]

46. Actually he's violating the rights of the people to protest which is their 1st amendment right.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

48. Here's the 1st Amendment ...

"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."

[keithbvadu2]

49. Trump does not seem to mind his rioters squelching FA rights if

he does not get the nomination at the big convention.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

50. Trump started something

and he finds it hard to believe there are great mass's that will up and revolt against his candidacy.He has a real problem in New York and California. It is highly doubtful Trump would find himself in a position to carry New York in a general election.

Just the other Day Christie tried to walk back Trump's statement saying he thought there would be riots if he lost the nomination for the lack of the total delegates needed .
The protests against Trump are getting bigger and more organized. It's a long road ahead and the peoples voices will be heard .Should begin to get more interesting from here on.

like it or love it !The Dump Trump movement is about all kinds of people getting together !

[Kablooie]

53. First Amendment prevents only *government* from hindering speech.

Citizens are perfectly welcome to do so constitutionwise.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

57. Technically yes on 1st, but no on second point. Violates the 9th.

Last edited Mon Mar 21, 2016, 11:51 AM - Edit history (1)

When a speaker hires a hall for a speech, a protester can stand up and shout, but the speaker has a right to eject them nonviolently.

If two people start speaking in a public square, they can both speak at the same time if they want, within limits of other ordinances like disturbing the peace (for example if it is too loud at night).

Like Jefferson Justice Brandeis said, the solution to bad speech is more speech.

[Kablooie]

60. It goes without saying that it's illegal to break civil law.

Even when exercising constitutional rights.

The 9th essentially allows that civil law also applies as long as it doesn't conflict with constitutional law.

[Javaman]

61. Free speech...

I'll just leave this here...

http://xkcd.com/1357/

[sinkingfeeling]

63. I gues he'll end our Consititutional right to assemble and protest after he's elected.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

64. You know, Donald, your sister's a judge.

If she's honest, she'd tell you that private citizens cannot violate a person's First Amendment right to free speech. Only government can.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

66. Apparently he never read the constitution either.

[Earth_First]

67. When you deliver hate speech after hate speech...

...do not be surprised when you're met by folks who are equally exercising their First Amendment Rights.

This isn't about disrupting a political campaign appearance...if it were that, I would be the first to cry foul.

This is about stepping up and not tolerating a campaign that has built itself more closely resembling an organized hate group; creatively utilizing a campaign as their cover and inciting, instigating and executing violence as a result of their message.

Again, this should come as no surprise...