First Amendment

An Open Letter to Emmett Burns

Submitted by ONE Community on September 9, 2012 - 4:54pm

Huffington Post Editor's note: Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo has voiced his support for a Maryland ballot initiative that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. In response, Maryland state delegate Emmett C. Burns, Jr. (D-Baltimore) wrote a letter to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti urging him to "inhibit such expressions from your employee." In the open letter below, Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe responds to Burns.

Dear Emmett C. Burns, Jr., Read more »

shadow

Supreme Court rules First Amendment protects church's right to picket funerals

Submitted by ONE Community on March 2, 2011 - 9:16am

A nearly unanimous Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the First Amendment protects even hurtful speech about public issues and upheld the right of a fringe church to protest near military funerals.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote that the Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church's picketing "is certainly hurtful and its contribution to public discourse may be negligible." But he said government "cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker." Read more »

shadow

Corte Suprema de normas de la Primera Enmienda protege el derecho de la iglesia para los funerales de piquetes

Submitted by ONE Community on March 2, 2011 - 9:16am

Una Corte Suprema de Justicia casi por unanimidad falló el miércoles que la Primera Enmienda protege el habla incluso hirientes sobre los asuntos públicos y defendió el derecho de una iglesia franja de protesta cerca de los funerales militares.

Presidente del Tribunal Supremo John G. Roberts Jr. escribió que el Topeka, Kansas, basado en los piquetes Iglesia Bautista de Westboro es "es ciertamente doloroso y su contribución al discurso público puede ser insignificante." Sin embargo, dijo que el gobierno "no puede reaccionar a ese dolor al castigar a los altavoces." Read more »

shadow