Existing comment:
A Tradition of Protest:
John Brown's raid in 1859, although unusual for its attack on a federal installation, is part of a long tradition of protest and dissent in America.
The United States was born in protest. In the years before the American Revolution, colonists repeatedly and passionately spoke out against the laws and policies of England. Eventually, they rebelled with violence and war.
With the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791, the Constitution of the United States guaranteed Americans the right of free speech, a free press, the right to petition the government, and the right to assemble peacefully.
Americans frequently use these fundamental rights. Over the years, citizens of the country have organized demonstrations and rallies to oopose policies and champion causes. Often controversial and sometimes violent, these protests have laid the foundation for political, social and economic change.
Today, as in the past, Americans often exercise their First Amendment rights. |