This recent post on the ACLU of Connecticut’s Web site may be helpful to those in political office, and in our community, who might seek to place restrictions on a citizen’s First Amendment right to free speech:
“The First Amendment protects individuals' right to free expression. The First Amendment ensures that individuals have the right to speak, publish, assemble and protest, no matter the content of their speech. In fact, the First Amendment exists precisely to protect the most controversial, hateful or obnoxious speech from government suppression. The First Amendment protects all types of both pure and symbolic speech, including the right to read books, listen to music, watch movies, engage in artistic performances, and wear logos. The guarantees of the First Amendment demonstrate that the best way to counter problematic speech is always with more speech, not less speech.” Oct. 1, 2011 American Civil Liberties Union
And this from Thomas Jefferson: "An association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which has never existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a town meeting or a vestry."
Take heart Mansfield Town Council and rejoice in the willingness of the Mansfield citizenry to participate in its governance.
