Fundamentally free

Like most, I was dismayed to learn that white power groups were planning to rally at the State Capitol on June 26.

And, like others, I watched via social media when chaos erupted as anti-facists and other protesters charged at the hate groups.

If I’m being honest, my immediate kneejerk reaction was, ‘Great, shut it down.”

My second reaction, however, was “OK, no, this isn’t how it works.”

As deplorable as they are, the hate groups there had secured the required permits. Legally, they were protected by the First Amendment.

You know, the right to peacefully assemble, free speech and all that.

Those constitutional rights are fundamental to this country. Fundamental to human rights. When you try to take away someone’s right to free speech or assemble—or worse, physically attack someone for his or her views, you’re no better than the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump who, on more than one occasion, seemingly incited violence at his rallies or threatened that as president he’d curtail the rights of the press because he doesn’t like the way it covers him. First the press and free speech, then what?

When you resort to restricting rights or violence to prevent another from expressing his or her views, you’re part of the problem.

I’ve read many reactions to the rally violence on Facebook and Twitter. Comments that justify the violence in the name of “running hate out out of town.”

No, that’s not how this works. Let’s not give into kneejerk reactions. We must always work to protect free speech, however detestable.

That’s how this democracy works.