General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Incitement to Riot is not protected "free speech" [View all]JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)This is from the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Schenck v. U.S.
(1919), setting limits on the freedom of speech guaranteed by the
First Amendment to the Constitution. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes,
Junior, wrote: "The most stringent protection of free speech would
not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a
panic."
http://alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxshouti.html
The decision had to do with the Espionage Act of 1917 and the right of someone to object to the draft. I disagree with the conclusion of the Court in some respects, but nevertheless you can't incite people to a riot. You have to stick to peaceful demonstrations.
The Supreme Court could decide this to protect more or less speech. Hard to say.
Personally, I think a very literal and simple reading of the First Amendment protects a lot of speech and expression and that very, very little speech, expression, assembly should be restricted or even regulated. But that is my personal opinion. The wording of the First Amendment broadly protects the individual's right to free expression and assembly in my opinion.