Freedom is the basis of the Constitution of the United States, a country founded under the principles of #liberty and inherent rights. These inherent rights are not granted by the government, they apply to everyone and are assumed at birth; or, in the spirit of the founding fathers, God-given. 

Some of these inherent rights are laid out in the First Amendment: a list of five #rights protected by the government which cannot be repealed or denied. These rights are freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom to petition. The Bill of Rights starts with these on purpose; it is the basis of American culture and individualism. 

So when the Minneapolis police department arrested people at protests, they became the target of many First Amendment activists. Some protesters used dramatic approaches--namely blocking traffic--not to impede the rights of others or to intentionally disrupt the travel of motorists, but to create noise and be heard. Though blocking traffic is illegal, it is an effective way to grab attention. Minneapolis Police went as far as using tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the protests, in clear violation of the citizens’ rights.

The action taken by the Minneapolis Police Department to arrest peaceful protestors and even media reporters (who had a right to be there) was perceived as excessive and harsh, targeting people at will rather than establishing a dialogue with protesters. This dialogue could have been used to reach a consensus on how to protect the right to assembly without disturbing the flow of traffic; so they could continue to voice their grievances while not impeding others. Instead, they quickly resorted to arresting people without giving any prior warning or a dispersal order. 

As the First Amendment is the basis of the entire Constitution and even the establishment of the United States, the right of free speech and of assembly is paramount, and it is important that officers are aware and protect those rights. The officers should have acknowledged this right to assemble, and protected citizens who were using their inalienable right. 

The very intention of an assembly is to address grievances, to create noise, to grab the attention of people, and to start a dialogue. Protesters will naturally use tactics and actions that will create an impact to have their voices heard. Thus, protests should be treated as an exercise of one’s right and not crime. If the police used that mindset, it would be clear that the protestors were doing the very thing the Constitution stands for.