As a Tea Party activist, I am aware of many cases where officials become very insistent that citizens have all their paperwork in order before exercising the right to peacefully assemble.
And, like the I.R.S. review of tax exemption applications, the same set of stringent rules do not apply to progressive organizations.
Tammy Bruce reports on the most recent example of differential application of regulations:
…Islamists are planning a so-called ‘Million Muslim March’ in DC on the anniversary of 9/11 which is now fast approaching. In response, bikers called for a 2 Million Biker ride through the capitol. The response has been amazing, but last week we found that while the Islamists got a permit the biker were refused by DC…
Happily, the bikers are planning to go around this particular roadblock. The Sons of Liberty Riders report:
Washington DC has DENIED our permit for a no-stop ride through Washington DC. We find this regretful for the residents and businesses of that great city, and humbly offer our apologies. What could have been a one or two hour ride through will now likely be an all day event. We will be obeying all laws. We will be stopping at all stoplights, stop signs, and yielding to all pedestrians.RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF WASHINGTON DC: On behalf of the National “2 Million Bikers to DC” Team, please accept our sincere apologies. We did the right thing and went through the proper channels to secure a no-stop permit to ride through your great city. We wanted to ride an established route, which would have taken us past the Viet Nam Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial, across the bridge into Virginia, and that’s it! We would have been completely out of Washington DC, and your city would have been back to normal.
Another recent example of permit-mania involved a citizen-organized protest against Syria at the end of August, which was handled when the members “stood their ground”, constitutionally speaking. The Spartanburg Tea Party reports:
…[A] group of folks gathered on a corner by the Westgate Mall to protest Obama’s stated plan to strike Syria, to do so without Congressional input/approval, and in general against this war effort itself….Those gathered were standing on their Constitutional right of assembly on public property, asking the officer what law they broke. In the end they were allowed to continue with their protest
Here’s a helpful hint to our progressive friends: In addition to “Freedom of Religion” and “Freedom of Speech”, there is a First Amendment right called “Freedom of Assembly“. It applies to conservatives, too.
I am looking forward to reporting on the successful biker rally.
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