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Tag Archives: First Amendment

Eric Schmitt (r) lays an egg…again

03 Friday Apr 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Eric Schmitt, social media, US Senate

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Easter, Eric Schmitt, First Amendment, missouri, social media, U.S. Senate

Amendment I – Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Eric Schmitt (r) [2025 file photo].

Today:

Senator Eric Schmitt
[April 3, 2026]

Easter is the holiest day in the Christian faith, and a central event in world history when death was defeated, and the stone was rolled away. It changed reality itself.
Our public calendar should honor this. It’s time to make Easter Monday a national holiday.
[….]

Some of the responses:

I am a Christian but firm believer in the founding principle of this country for separation of church and state. Making a Christian celebration a national holiday would alienate many US citizens who are not Christians. Please focus on things the federal government should be doing like the economy, ending wars, and protecting ALL citizens.

Eric only cares about those exactly like himself. White, male, Christian. It’s why he’s such a terrible representative of the people.

I am a Christian but I do not need a federal holiday to celebrate Easter. I am against any established tradition that favors any religion unless all religions get to celebrate their tradition as a federal holiday. I am pleased to live in a land where I can choose to be a Christian and my neighbor can choose to follow his faith even if it is not like mine. Christian Nationalism has no place in the US.

“Easter Monday” is not and has never been a thing.
Sounds like maybe you drink too much at Easter dinner and want the next day off to nurse your hangover…

Eric, its time to love thy neighbor like Jesus wanted and not put him in horrible camps.

Eric doesn’t want you to vote.

Nope. One of the many reasons why I love my country is because I can choose to be a Christian. Not forced to be. Now get us out of this war and bring down gas and groceries.

So you want a holiday for a faith that you don’t actually believe in. Your actions go completely against the teachings of Jesus. You hate immigrants more than you hate pedophiles. You do not love your neighbor. You do not feed the poor. You took health care away from millions of people. Cuz it was always your administration has harmed so many people. Your administration are the Pharisees. If Jesus was alive today, your party would crucify him. You support one of the most evil vile racist administrations this country has ever seen. That’s your legacy. You do not know what the meaning of being a Christian is. Maybe if you would get your head out of Trump’s ass you could see a better picture.

First Amendment class was skipped at Saint Louis University.

You are a CINO – a Christian In Name Only. You support so many policies that are the antithesis of what Jesus stood for.

Read the constitution and study the history of our country. Read what made the pilgrims come to America. Read about Jefferson’s thoughts on separation of church and state. Read about the genocide committed on the indigenous people who were here before the Europeans came. And when you get to current history take the time to read how much work immigrants do in our economy and how much they contribute. Get a fxxxing education and learn about your own country’s history.

Eric Schmitt (r) [2022 file photo].

No thanks

Don’t wrap your fascist bullshit in religious claptrap…nothing you slimy fake Christian weasels do has a damn thing to do with Jesus…you nazi bastards make a mockery of the prince of peace…youre a murderous power- crazed asshole…and the US constitutionally separates the church and state…to prevent hypocritical religious wackos like you from imposing your irrational nonsense on others…

You continue to work nothing important to the American people

How is your foreign war for christ going.

Trump Holy War

Wishing all who celebrate, a meaningful holiday.
And letting you know the Establishment Clause says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”. This prohibits the government from creating an official state church or favoring one religion over another.“.
Would be refreshing if you read the constitution.

NEVER!!!! READ THE CONSTITUTION. This is NOT a Christian nation, not matter how hard you try to make it one.

No, Eric, Easter should NOT be a Federal holiday. Christianity is an individual choice and that’s the way Jesus set it up. It’s a personal relationship. It’s not something decided by families, communities, or governments. Praying that one day you will understand that.

Jesus told me you’re a fucking embarrassment.

You should really stop pretending to be a Christian and a follower of God. At the same time protecting all of the evil things Trump has done to everyone.

That pesky Establishment Clause

05 Thursday Mar 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

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Christofascist, Constitution, establishment clause, Fascist pig, First Amendment, Pete Hegseth, social media, sycophant, Trump sycophant

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Today:

DOW Rapid Response
@DOWResponse

. @SECWAR “All the nations represented in this room are offspring of Western civilization.

Our nations are and always will be united by our heritage, history, and geography in this New World. We share the same interests, and because of this, we face an essential test.

Whether our nations will be—and remain—Western nations with distinct characteristics—Christian nations under God.”

[….]

9:38 AM · Mar 5, 2026

Some people never got out of junior high school:

DOW Rapid Response
@DOWResponse
Welcome To The Official Rapid Response Account For The DOW! Supporting The Mission Of @SecWar
And Fighting Against Fake News! [….]
The Pentagon war.gov Joined February 2025

And they slept through class:

Establishment Clause
The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.” This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another. It also prohibits the government from unduly preferring religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion.
[….]

3.5% on October 18, 2025

13 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

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#resist, 3.5%, dissent, First Amendment, protest

While we still have a First Amendment.

“…once the nonviolent protests had achieved that 3.5% threshold of active engagement that success seemed to be guaranteed…”

“No King”

“…also, Fuck ICE”

“No Kings”

“No Kings”

Be there. 12:00 noon, at the Johnson County Courthouse, Warrensburg, Missouri, Saturday, October 18th.

“…when a mere 3.5 percent of a nation’s population mobilizes in peaceful protest at a key moment, it becomes nearly impossible for the government to ignore the people’s demands for transformative change. In the United States, that percentage equals approximately 12 million people…”

It ain’t a free country if a cat can’t blow what he pleases

03 Friday Oct 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

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dictator, Donald Trump, Fascist pig, First Amendment, flag burning, free speech, social media

Fascist pig.

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

Today, even more distraction and performative bullshit:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

To ICE, Border Patrol, Law Enforcement, and all U.S. Military: As per my August 25, 2025 Executive Order, please be advised that, from this point forward, anybody burning the American Flag will be subject to one year in prison. You will be immediately arrested. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

3.16k ReTruths 11.2k Likes Oct 03, 2025, 6:26 PM

Stare Decisis.

“…If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable…”

“…Nor may the government, we have held, compel conduct that would evince respect for the flag…”

“…In holding in Barnette that the Constitution did not leave this course open to the government, Justice Jackson described one of our society’s defining principles in words deserving of their frequent repetition: ‘If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein’…”

“…Texas’ focus on the precise nature of Johnson’s expression, moreover, misses the point of our prior decisions: their enduring lesson, that the government may not prohibit expression simply because it disagrees with its message, is not dependent on the particular mode in which one chooses to express an idea. If we were to hold that a State may forbid flag burning wherever it is likely to endanger the flag’s symbolic role, but allow it wherever burning a flag promotes that role—as where, for example, a person ceremoniously burns a dirty flag—we would be saying that when it comes to impairing the flag’s physical integrity, the flag itself may be used as a symbol—as a substitute for the written or spoken word or a ‘short cut from mind to mind’—only in one direction. We would be permitting a State to ‘prescribe what shall be orthodox’ by saying that one may burn the flag to convey one’s attitude toward it and its referents only if one does not endanger the flag’s representation of nationhood and national unity…”

“…There is, moreover, no indication—either in the text of the Constitution or in our cases interpreting it—that a separate juridical category exists for the American flag alone. Indeed, we would not be surprised to learn that the persons who framed our Constitution and wrote the Amendment that we now construe were not known for their reverence for the Union Jack…”

TEXAS v. JOHNSON. 491 U.S. 397 (1989)

To paraphrase and appropriate:

Patriotism isn’t about forbidding flag burning as an expression of dissent.

It is about creating a country where no one feels the need to do so.

Union Proud

17 Wednesday Sep 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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American Federation of Musicians, Donald Trump, First Amendment, free speech, Jimmy Kimmel, Solidarity

From my union:

Statement in Response to ABC Taking Jimmy Kimmel Live! Off the Air
Wednesday September 17th, 2025

American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada President Tino Gagliardi issued the following statement in response to ABC taking Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which employs musicians from Local 47 in Los Angeles, off the air:

“This is not complicated: Trump’s FCC identified speech it did not like and threatened ABC with extreme reprisals. This is state censorship. It’s now happening in the United States of America, not some far-off country. It’s happening right here and right now.

This act by the Trump Administration represents a direct attack on free speech and artistic expression. These are fundamental rights that we must protect in a free society. The American Federation of Musicians strongly condemns the decision to take Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air.

We stand in solidarity with all those who will be without work because of government overreach.”

Donald Trump (r), today:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT

6.33k ReTruths 28k Likes Sep 17, 2025, 7:04 PM

Hey, Donald:

First Amendment? Never heard of it.

16 Tuesday Sep 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Congress, Mark Alford, social media, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Charlie Kirk, Fascist pig, First Amendment, gaslighting, hagiography, Hypocrisy, Mark Alford, pearl clutching, right wingnut, sycophant, Trump sycophant

Mark Alford (r) [2024 file photo].

Today:

Congressman Mark Alford
[September 16, 2025]

Accountability is non-negotiable.
Those who celebrate political violence do not belong anywhere near students or the classroom.
Paid leave is unacceptable. They should be fired.
[….]

Some of the responses:

Are you sure they celebrated or just commented?
Does trump get fired fir telling a crowd to beat up a man and throw him outside without a coat in minus 10 degree weather?
Let’s have some Grace.
Let’s everyone step back and tone it down. No calls for violence and no celebrations of school shootings.
The next political violence condem it.
FYI . Not too late to condemn 6 Jan, the attack on Pelosi, the Governor of Pennsylvania, the planned attack on the Michigan governor, the Muder of the Minnesota legislator or the violence that Kile Rettinor was involved in.
When you call out one but not everyone it sounds untrue.
And yes I condemned the attack on the congressional baseball teams and the attempts on trump.
Stop all school shootings and political violence.

MA stay in your lane, obviously you have not read all of his beliefs or you surely would not post that.

So should you, yet here we are 🤷🏽‍♀️

I thought republicans were against cancel culture?

it’s OK when they do it.

He was killed on camera. No one’s family deserves to have to witness that. It’s unthinkably cruel that people would then go on the internet and use their platform to say about an innocent man that “I don’t care that he’s dead.”
“He’s not a hero.” “He’s a scumbag.”
“He shouldn’t be celebrated.”
I’m talking about George Floyd. You thought I was talking about Charlie Kirk? No, those are actual quotes BY Charlie Kirk about George Floyd.
Outrageous that anyone would say that of the dead, right?

cancel culture and “f” your feelings crowd sure are going against their beliefs…

Nothing about this situation violates the school’s policies, and you publicly calling for their termination is unacceptable. These two staff members shared posts on their own time, on private pages. They were not public posts, not shared with students, and not brought into the classroom. Our district has systems in place, like classroom observations, performance evaluations, compliance checks, and other accountability measures to ensure staff professionalism. There is no evidence that any line was crossed in school, and certainly no “celebration” of someone’s death. Yet the pitchforks have already come out: first coming for the counselor, then the teacher, then the superintendent, board members, and now even another principal. This is dangerous behavior from people who don’t know these two incredible individuals, don’t understand our school policies, and do not understand our First Amendment rights.

I read what they wrote. No one was celebrating anything. They were stating their opinion.

They should be gone.

So, you’re in favor of cancel culture this week?

are you politely, as you clutch your pearls, choosing specific words, hoping your dog whistle calls up a mad dog? How cute.

Please continue to tell the truth and put the good word out on Jesus Christ 🙏 Unashamed in his glory. Stay safe Congressman Mark Alford and the good people who believe in rightousness. Pray for the world 🌎🙏

Did they use school resources?
Post on school time?
Attach their school issued credentials?
If so, fine. Fire them.
If not, then leave them the hell alone and start holding yourself, your staff, your party and your people to the same standard of behavior and accountabilities.
“First clean the inside of the cup,” if you will.

You are so right. If evil is celebrated we have lost all sense of humanity.
The left bashes us because we didn’t equally react to the Hortmans horrific murders. But it’s certainly not because it doesn’t affect us and you don’t see us celebrating it.
Both are equally horrible but Charlie was in our living rooms day after day and we KNEW him. We Saw His brutal assassination.
THE FACT THAT THE LEFT IS Celebrating OR MAKING EXCUSES IS SICKENING.

Where to begin?

Show us an example of the left “celebrating” his death. A REAL example.
NOBODY I know is celebrating his death. We are merely REPEATING his OWN WORDS back to you all and saying that he was indeed a hateful, bigoted, racist, misogynistic jerk…and, you all consider that to be “celebrating.”

he twisted the teachings of Jesus to suit his needs. And you welcomed him into your home. There are no “celebrations,” going on. Those that don’t believe the way You do are NOT evil.
Just look at the actual words of ck concerning the vicious attack on Paul Pelosi, the Hartman murder and his despicable comments concerning the slaughter of children, he suggests execution of LBGTQ and his vile words concerning POC.
And you worship him?! Thats the problem. Not a democrat wanting fully funded public education, food assistance to Everyone that needs food, Healthcare as a Right, strong infrastructure, affordable and safe housing, a living wage, support Unions, to protect and preserve the environment and wants Equal Rights, Civil Rights, Human Rights for ALL. Last I knew, Jesus supported those things, actually TOLD his followers to help, welcome, feed, clothe, house, heal and Love others.

Probably not attributable to Gandhi.

You should be fired.

I researched every aspect of this issue, including going to the “So Informed” social media page to find and read EXACTLY the post that these teachers forwarded ( which, by the way, they later deleted). This post did not celebrate or advocate political violence even though it shared a point of view about the character (based on Charlie Kirk’s own words) of Charlie Kirk which many people also share. This post was quick to state empathy for Charlie Kirk’s wife and children and voiced the wish for all of our children to grow up to live in a country that values their lives enough to take gun violence seriously.
This is Freedom of Speech. The same Freedom of Speech that President Trump used when (without any evidence) immediately accused the so-called Democratic left for this despicable act of violence. In the days since then it has basically been proven that the murdere was influenced by a radical group that thinks the so-called Republican right is actually not radically “right wing” enough and not the “left” at all.
Stop this rhetoric. Stop creating more animosity than there already is!!!

I have yet to see anybody that celebrating his death. I see more people trying to make a martyr out of a bigot. The problem is if people speak out and point out that he really wasn’t as christ-like as the right is trying to make him then they’re being punished. It’s ridiculous

Careful clutching your pearls.

Cancel culture for me, but not for thee. What a hypocrite? How does his idiot keep getting elected?

Americans are busy hating each other when we could just tax the rich and solve 90% of our problems.

Shhhh.

The ‘fuck your feelings’ crowd sure is butthurt these days…

Cracker Barrel ruined their lives.

I didn’t realize we were in the midst of thought police, Marky Mark.

Once again, NICE JOB UNITING EVERYONE, ASSHOLE ALFORD.

You’re an embarrassment.

Our children deserve better than to fear being shot in schools. But that’s been a non-starter for decades (thanks, Alford).

[….] Speaking of celebrating political violence, didn’t Charlie suggest that somebody should bail out the man who beat Paul Pelosi on the head with a hammer? Mark, did you forget? Should Charlie have been near students?

Yes, yes he did. He also facilitated several busses for the J6 insurrectionists to travel to D.C. that day.

So you can’t even criticize someone without some snowflakes trying to get you fired? Neat.

Here’s Alford again stoking the fire after he goes on TV and pretends he wants to lower the temperatures

Im not celebrating, and I haven’t seen a single celebration being held.
What I do see are people like you Congressman Mark Alford, acting like ck was some national hero. He is, was not. He twisted the words in the Bible, the words of Jesus, to fit his needs. He used his twisted rhetoric to spread hate, division, racism, misogynistic views, and enriched himself off the pain he caused.
And I wont waste a drop of empathy on him, he wouldn’t want that afterall.

Freedom of speech is only free if you agree with it, right ?

??? Did they violate an existing school or district policy on politics ? If so, they should be reprimanded, if not they should be protected under the First Amendment as this was not done while in the school setting. Calm down, people who disagree with your opinion may open dialogue and insight if hostility is removed. Controversial subjects should not lead to violence. I read the full post I did not see where there was celebration of violence, lack of empathy, yes.

Repeating Kirk’s words are getting people in trouble? That should tell you something.

On their private pages no doubt?
So fascists, like Congressman Mark Alford, get to lie and gaslight every day on their pages—paid for by us taxpayers—while people who work in Missouri schools with our children get punished for telling the truth?

If his own words didn’t concern you, you got a problem.

Republicans are what they hate.
They represent Charlie Kirk’s version of free speech, also known as White privilege.

To take the side of a xenophobe, racist, sexist, bigot over the First Amendment is fascist to the core.

Weaponizing much…

Gestapo

Mark Alford (r) [2023 file photo].

Previously:

thoughts & prayers (September 10, 2025)

gaslighting & hagiography (September 12, 2025)

Keeping a civil tongue (September 13, 2025)

Rally Against Truth Decay – Johnson County Courthouse – Warrensburg, Missouri – September 13, 2025 (September 13, 2025)

Rally Against Truth Decay – Johnson County Courthouse – Warrensburg, Missouri – September 13, 2025 – part 2 (September 14, 2025)

And exactly how does this help, Mark (r)? (September 15, 2025)

“…Badges? We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ badges!…”

11 Friday Jul 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

4th Congressional District, Fascist pig, First Amendment, former newsreader, ice, immigration, Mark Alford, missouri, right wingnut, social media, sycophant, that ridiculous hat, Trump sycophant

Mark Alford (r) [2023 file photo].

First Amendment? We ain’t got no First Amendment. We don’t need no First Amendment. I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ First Amendment.

Yesterday, from Mark Alford (r):

Congressman Mark Alford
[July 10, 2025]
Proud to join Congressmen Roger Williams & Pat Fallon in demanding an immediate investigation into the ICEBlock app.
The Trump Admin is getting dangerous criminals off our streets, and any attempt to interfere with lawful ICE operations cannot be tolerated.
[….]

Some of the responses:

Have the officers in uniform and displaying what department they are.
Stop grabbing brown people. Ask if a person is a citizen.
Several reports from US citizens of having masked men with no ID/ patches running up and grabbing them. Being roughed up, put on the ground and cuffed . Then a hour or too later being able to show ID. Often then charged with obstruction or resisting the officer.
Do US citizens need to obtain a passport and carry it on their person at all times?

“Your papers, please.”

Nothing else will do.

Perhaps if the ICE agents were wearing uniforms and badges, and not wearing masks, and behaved like respectful law enforcement with warrants, citizens wouldn’t feel threatened!

they do wear uniforms! And they are dealing with mentally unstable people who are trying to block them from doing their job!

Probably thinks Klaus Barbie was just misunderstood.

No they don’t. They have plain clothes on, and no identifier within plain view. There are bounty hunters running around as well, there is no accountability for these people, that is the issue.

participating in arrest, detention, and confinement without due process is a violation of the Constitution. Deporting to another country other than their home country, to be jailed, is participating in concentration camps.
Why do you not understand this?
Do you value due process? The Trump administration and the man himself has greatly abused due process in the other direction as well, by using every step available, even patently false arguments forwarded to extend the due process timeline.

Principles of International Law Recognized in the Charter of the Nüremberg Tribunal and in the Judgment of the Tribunal, 1950.
Principle IV
The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.

we have already seen many accounts of the judicial branch setting the record straight on the rights of citizens AND holding the Executive departments accountable to the rule of law they violated.
Just doing orders means you are equally complicit in said crime. Remember we determined that decades ago as well.

why are you supporting an agency that violates US Law against its own citizens?

he supports a man that pardoned hundreds of people who attacked and injured law enforcement officers. The two are not compatible

Congressman Mark Alford, Really, yet the Felon is still in office.
What about “Freedom of Speech”?

Please post the statistics for the number of undocumented criminals and non-criminals ICE has kidnapped. Or would those numbers not match your rhetoric?

“Dangerous criminals?” A few.
But overwhelmingly, the Trump Administration is grabbing ordinary immigrants who are following US laws on their path to citizenship.
Meanwhile, the guy ordering these immigration raids is a 34x convicted felon and serial sexual abuser whose name and image appears frequently with that of pedophile and serial rapist Jeffrey Epstein. He also happens to have fathered an anchor baby by an illegal immigrant who overstayed her visa.
So let’s be clear, Alford.
You don’t hate criminals. You hate dark skinned people.
You should read up on what your Bible says about Liars and Hypocrites, pal.

It’s time that ICE quit messing around and start using lethal force against people that throw rocks at them or anything for that matter. And when one of the protesters wave a flag handcuff and send them back to the country of the flag that are waving get them the hell out of the United States. 😡😡😡😡

St. Patrick’s Day is gonna be lit!

So much for freedom of speech, I guess
How many have been taken off the streets, Representative?
How many of those have been proven as ‘dangerous criminals’, because that’s not at all the stats I see.

Getting dangerous criminals off the street? You mean like beating a father of three Marines who was mowing the lawn of a local business? Or perhaps arresting non criminals who are attending scheduled immigration hearings? Or do you mean arresting and deporting a citizen who worked as a make up artist who had no criminal record. ICE isn’t going after criminals. They are going after minorities. They are trying to ethnically cleanse the country.

Awful, you’re a fn useless bigot. When are you going to light the ovens?

“Dangerous criminals” at job sites and federal buildings? BS! Human beings trying to live.

Another pathetic move from a spineless fake conservative. You all want small government and free speech, until you have control.

We’re just reporting unmarked, military-like activity to warn our neighbors of suspicious activity. Are they ICE? no idea. 🤷🏻‍♀️ they could be those Venezuelan gang invaders y’all were going on about.
If y’all want to identify and conduct yourselves as legitimate federal agents, then we wouldn’t have to be on the lookout for shenanigans. Seems pretty simple, really.

You have become as big of a joke as your golden idol. You can’t serve two masters. We know which master you have chosen.

Congressman Mark Alford is a fucking idiot if he thinks sharing information about ICE raids is illegal. The dumbass must have forgot about the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution. Citizens are like journalists. In fact, citizens that communicate news and information are journalists. ICE raids are a significant interest to the public. We have a right to know what government agents are doing on public property. We have a right to know what government agents are doing in public spaces. Furthermore, private property owners have a right to know what is happening on their own property. So Congressman, stop the tyranny. Stop the rediculous claims. Stop being a total government asshole

Trump’s little dog, woof woof.

According to TRAC Immigrations, over 71% of detainees have no criminal convictions. People have to do something to protect themselves. Here’s a question Mark, why isn’t ICE going after immigrants who are not Black and Brown?

Mark Alford (r) [2025 file photo].

Johnson County, Missouri Democrats – No Kings – #Resist – on Saturday, June 14, 2025

13 Friday Jun 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, dissent, First Amendment, Johnson County, missouri, No Kings, protest, Warrensburg

On Saturday hundreds of thousands of Americans will take to the streets across the country to protest the travesty which is the second Trump Administration. You can find a location near you via No Kings. At last word there were close to 2000 scheduled events.

The “No Kings” event in Warrensburg, Missouri will start at 1:00 p.m. downtown at the Johnson County Courthouse.

Yesterday:

Johnson County Missouri Democratic Central Committee

STATEMENT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE – JUNE 12 2025

Protests – Exercising your rights and staying safe

The protests in Los Angeles for the past several days and those anticipated nationwide this weekend, Saturday June 14, raise our awareness of First Amendment speech, personal constitutional rights and the role of the government(s) – national, state and local – to maintain law and order.

First, the JoCo Democratic Central Committee believes that the protests which have occurred in west central Missouri are vitally important to draw attention to the conduct of those who continue to ignore the rule of law, especially related to immigrants. We have participated in these events, gratefully exercising one of our most fundamental rights – the right to speak our minds even if critical of government action.

Second, America was and is made better by the vast majority of immigrants — and all of us, except Native Americans—descend from immigrant ancestors. Our diversity for 250 plus years has made the U.S. (to quote a former President of the other party), a “shining city on a hill” for the rest of the world.

Protesting is good and sometimes necessary, just like our founders believed.

Breaking the law and/or engaging in violence is wrong and distracts from the message we are trying to send the American people—that message: You can and should stand up for your own rights and that of other people in this country.

This weekend, if you choose to protest – and please do -, please be aware of your surroundings to keep yourself and your cherished friends safe while protesting. Show respect not only for those whose rights are at issue, but also for law enforcement – they have a job to do too and need your cooperation to do it.

We will participate in a peaceful protest at 1 pm on the 14 June at the Johnson County Courthouse, 300 N. Holden Street in Warrensburg.

Finally, remember our fellow Americans in Los Angeles and support them in whatever lawful way you choose —as we hope and try to avoid major violence there, in other major American cities and in our own backyard this summer. Stay strong and be safe.

###

Fascist pig says what?

04 Tuesday Mar 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

convicted felon, Donald Trump, Fascist pig, First Amendment, social media

This morning:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.

1.89k ReTruths 6.78k Likes Mar 04, 2025, 6:30 AM

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check. Conviction. Check.

Just one of many reactions:

Ron Filipkowski ‪@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social‬

Presumably, this government by Truth Social posts will define exactly what an “illegal protest” is, and that definition will not be so broad that it encroaches on free speech guarantees we’ve enjoyed for two centuries.
[….]

March 4, 2025 at 6:54 AM

McCullen v Coakley (2014) gently weeps

05 Thursday May 2022

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

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abortion, First Amendment, Hypocrisy, protest, Roe v Wade, snowflakes, Supreme Court

From the U.S. Supreme Court in 2014:

[….]
In 2007, Massachusetts amended its Reproductive Health Care Facilities Act, which had been enacted in 2000 to address clashes between abortion opponents and advocates of abortion rights outside clinics where abortions were performed. The amended version of the Act makes it a crime to knowingly stand on a “public way or sidewalk” within 35 feet of an entrance or driveway to any “reproductive health care facility,” defined as “a place, other than within or upon the grounds of a hospital, where abortions are offered or performed.”

[….]

Chief Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court.

 A Massachusetts statute makes it a crime to knowingly stand on a “public way or sidewalk” within 35 feet of an entrance or driveway to any place, other than a hospital, where abortions are performed. Mass. Gen. Laws, ch. 266, §§120E½(a), (b) (West 2012). Petitioners are individuals who approach and talk to women outside such facilities, attempting to dissuade them from having abortions. The statute prevents petitioners from doing so near the facilities’ entrances. The question presented is whether the statute violates the First Amendment.

[….]

Petitioners wish to converse with their fellow citizens about an important subject on the public streets and sidewalks—sites that have hosted discussions about the issues of the day throughout history. Respondents assert undeniably significant interests in maintaining public safety on those same streets and sidewalks, as well as in preserving access to adjacent healthcare facilities. But here the Commonwealth has pursued those interests by the extreme step of closing a substantial portion of a traditional public forum to all speakers. It has done so without seriously addressing the problem through alternatives that leave the forum open for its time-honored purposes. The Commonwealth may not do that consistent with the First Amendment.

 The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

It is so ordered.

Today, at the United States Supreme Court:

ABC News @ABC
A new, imposing eight-foot-high fence was erected overnight at the U.S. Supreme Court in the wake of protests over a bombshell draft opinion on abortion.
[….]
1:16 PM · May 5, 2022

Apparently the First Amendment doesn’t apply.

“…Petitioners wish to converse with their fellow citizens about an important subject on the public streets and sidewalks—sites that have hosted discussions about the issues of the day throughout history…”

“…by the extreme step of closing a substantial portion of a traditional public forum to all speakers. It has done so without seriously addressing the problem through alternatives that leave the forum open for its time-honored purposes…”

Apparently the First Amendment doesn’t apply to criticism of the Supreme Court. Snowflakes.

“Choice is Freedom”

Previously:

Stare decisis don’t mean shit (May 2, 2022)

Into the streets (May 2, 2022)

Gleeful handwringing (May 3, 2022)

It’s the GOP’s world, now you just get to live in it (May 3, 2022)

Into the streets, part 2 (May 3, 2022)

A statement (May 3, 2022)

Into the streets, part 3 (May 3, 2022)

BREAKING NEWS: Pearl-clutcher clutches pearls (May 3, 2022)

Heartland POD: SCOTUS Abortion Case (May 3, 2022)

Into the streets, part 4 (May 4, 2022)

Into the streets, part 5 (May 5, 2022)

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