The Right of the Congress to Peaceably Assemble Shall Not Be Abridged
This morning, I came across a bill introduced by Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York. H. Con. Res. 1 has a title of “Regarding consent to assemble outside the seat of government,” which captured my attention and interest. There’s been a lot of difficulty lately regarding the issue of “consent to assemble outside the seat of government,” after all. During the Bush years, people were arrested for attending public gatherings of President George W. Bush because they had buttons of dissent on them, and arrested for coming too close to the Vice President. People attempting to “peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” (see Amendment, First) at gatherings of both Democratic and Republican leaders have been shut away, far away, behind razor wire. Even at this year’s inauguration of Barack Obama, people were turned away because they carried critical signs.
I was especially heartened to read that H. Con. Res 1 passed the House without objection. And then I actually read the text of the bill. The bill reaffirms the right of the Congress to peaceably assemble outside the borders of the District of Columbia if it so chooses.
There is no bill before either house of the United States Congress reaffirming citizens’ First Amendment right to peaceably assemble and petition for the redress of grievances.
