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Freedom of Assembly

A red marker draws an X over a group of protesters

First Amendment

This Tennessee Town Claims Restricting Protests Helps 'Facilitate' the First Amendment

A new ordinance in Franklin will restrict evening and weekend protests and subject violators to misdemeanor charges.

Fiona Harrigan | 8.30.2022 3:44 PM

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First Amendment

The Kentucky Bill That Would Criminalize Words That Offend Cops Also Would Authorize Arrests for Distributing Water Bottles

The heavy-handed measure, a direct response to the protests provoked by the shooting of Breonna Taylor, looks like an attempt to deter constitutionally protected activity.

Jacob Sullum | 3.12.2021 12:05 PM

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Coronavirus

Pennsylvania Lockdown Lawsuit Victory May Cure a Plague of Pandemic Restrictions

“The Constitution sets certain lines that may not be crossed, even in an emergency.”

J.D. Tuccille | 9.18.2020 4:50 PM

Protester in Scotland with COVID-1984 in gummies on her face

Coronavirus

The COVID-19 Pandemic Keeps Proving Deadly to Liberty

As the pandemic rages on, nominally free countries are sliding down a path blazed by authoritarian regimes.

J.D. Tuccille | 9.11.2020 1:00 PM

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Reason Roundup

It Wasn't Tear Gas. It Was a Gaseous Substance That Causes Tears.

Plus: Protest updates, COVID-19 upates, a surge in gun sales, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 6.3.2020 9:56 AM

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Hong Kong

A Huge Blow to Hongkongers' Freedoms

New legislation proposed in Beijing signals the likely end of the "one country, two systems" policy that has allowed Hong Kong to flourish.

Liz Wolfe | 5.22.2020 2:55 PM

Free Speech

"Car Parades, Cruises, and Joyriding" "Are NOT Prohibited," at Least in Osage County, Kansas

And they would, I think, be peaceable assembly protected by the First Amendment, even in a time of epidemic.

Eugene Volokh |The Volokh Conspiracy | 4.22.2020 11:30 PM

Crime

Judge Rejects Freedom of Assembly/Association Challenge to New Mexico Limit on In-Person Worship

Eugene Volokh |The Volokh Conspiracy | 4.18.2020 2:59 PM

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Reason Roundup

It Figures That Michigan Is Among the First States To See Protests Against Social Distancing

Plus: Puerto Rico criminalizes fake news about COVID-19, wide geographic disparity in U.S. income growth, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.16.2020 9:30 AM

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Reason Roundup

Religious Freedom Clashes With Public Health Enforcers

Plus: Signal will leave the U.S. market if EARN IT passes, Justin Amash blasts Michigan shutdown orders, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.13.2020 9:50 AM

Volokh Conspiracy

Mississippi City Bans Drive-in Church Services

That violates the Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and probably the freedom of assembly and association.

Eugene Volokh |The Volokh Conspiracy | 4.10.2020 3:15 PM

Free Speech

N.H. Court Rejects Challenge to Ban on Gatherings of 50 or More People

Eugene Volokh |The Volokh Conspiracy | 3.26.2020 4:25 PM

Freedom of Assembly

Lawsuit Challenging N.H. Order Banning Gatherings of 50 or More People

Eugene Volokh |The Volokh Conspiracy | 3.20.2020 2:21 PM

VCDL gun rally

2nd Amendment

Gun Rights Groups Sue Over Virginia Governor's 'Emergency' Ban

The governor fears a gun-rights rally might turn violent; a judge refuses to stop him from barring weapons from the demonstration.

Brian Doherty | 1.17.2020 4:20 PM

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Burning Man

Burning Man Sues the Federal Government Over Permitting Fees and a Sketchy Appeals Process

A federal lawsuit demands that the government honor its appeals process regarding the costs it imposes on the annual event.

Brian Doherty | 12.18.2019 3:05 PM

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Hong Kong

American Woman Tells Hongkongers 'Safety Is More Important Than Freedom'

Under Chinese authoritarianism, they'll have neither.

Liz Wolfe | 9.27.2019 12:30 PM

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Conservatism

Don't Destroy the Constitution To Fight Drag Queen Reading Hour

Putting up with some drag-queen storytelling seems like a small price to pay to live in a relatively free society.

Steven Greenhut | 9.20.2019 8:00 AM

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Hong Kong

Pro-Democracy Activists Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow Arrested in Hong Kong

"Hong Kong is a place without basic political and economic freedom," Wong tells Reason.

Liz Wolfe | 8.30.2019 2:25 PM

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First Amendment

Is the First Amendment Flourishing or Floundering in the 21st Century?: Podcast

Nadine Strossen, Eugene Volokh, and Stephanie Slade discuss freedom of speech, assembly, and religion at Reason's 50th anniversary.

Nick Gillespie | 11.23.2018 9:30 AM

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Protests

Portland City Council Rejects Mayor's Constitutionally Dubious 'Emergency Ordinance' on Protests

Believe it or not, authorities can maintain the peace while also respecting the First Amendment.

Joe Setyon | 11.15.2018 11:10 AM

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Freedom of Assembly

Government Drops Charges in Inauguration Protest Prosecution

Defense attorney slams the attempt to prosecute for being part of the protest, which raised First Amendment concerns, for being a "waste of time and a waste of taxpayers' resources."

Brian Doherty | 7.6.2018 7:55 PM

Freedom of Assembly

Harvard Commits to Ban on Single-Sex Organizations, But Will Allow 'Gender-Focused' Female Groups

Female groups are allowed to remain "gender focused," while male groups are penalized.

Kayla Stetzel | 2.5.2018 2:05 PM

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Freedom of Assembly

After Violent Attack, Portland Mayor Calls for Abandoning First Amendment

For the millionth time, there's no "hate speech" exemption.

Scott Shackford | 5.30.2017 12:32 PM

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Protests

How Important Are Nonviolent Protests and Media Criticism in Preserving Democracy? Depends Which Party You Belong to!

Striking findings from Pew Research

Lindsay Marchello | 3.7.2017 5:00 PM

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Millennials

OSU Threatens to Expel Student Activists for Making Campus Staff Feel Unsafe

"The people in this building have a right to a safe environment ... where their jobs won't be interrupted," OSU officials say.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.15.2016 10:33 AM

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Harassment

All Anti-Feminist Talk Would Be Criminal 'Hate Speech' If U.K. Activists Get Their Way

Um, guys, a government allowed to whimsically bar people from coming to the country is sure not going to stop with preventing pickup artists from entering.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 2.3.2016 5:35 PM

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Politics

A Swingers Club Is Rebranded a Church To Evade Local Busybodies

"It will have the same rules that many churches observe" except adultery is OK.

Amanda Winkler | 5.28.2015 3:05 PM

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Politics

Another Infuriating Crackdown on Sharing Food With the Homeless

San Antonio targets a good Samaritan, because rules are rules.

Baylen Linnekin | 4.18.2015 8:00 AM

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