When Your Noise Is Not Free Speech

 Yesterday in Minneapolis church service(s) were interrupted by protestors. These were worship services for people wishing to be with God. And, they were shut down by loud, unruly and doubtless paid, antagonists who, if reports are correct, believed a minister from the church was with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

I became aware of this affront when I saw videos of television personality Don Lemon defending the rudeness as “free speech”. Free Speech, of course, is recognized as a human Right under the 1st Amendment of our Bill of Rights. (Linked here: Don Lemon wrecks the 1st A) It has since been reported on Fox news too.

Two thoughts came to mind.

1.). The 1st Amendment also recognizes the Right to religion, and this riot within the church during a worship service took away that Right of the parishioners. Interrupting the freedoms of others is not consistent with the 1st Amendment.

2.). And, if these protestors were paid or in any other way directed to perform this civil rights violation they do not have a 1st A protection during such. If you are paid to say it, your 1st Amendment Right is not in play during that speech, because, it isn’t your speech.

As a corollary matter it should be made law that it is not a religion if you are compelled to join or at risk if you fail to join and/or abide by the tenets of a philosophy. Yes, I am looking at Islam.