1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

The First Amendment is not a suggestion. The Constitution is explicit: Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble. I expect you to defend that without qualification. Reports of First Amendment violations — restricted speech zones, intimidation of peaceful protesters, and suppression of press documentation — are not abstract concerns. These are real incidents happening to real constituents. When government agents interfere with lawful assembly or penalize people for speaking out, they are acting in direct violation of the supreme law of this country. That is not a partisan issue. It is a constitutional one. I want to know where you stand. Will you publicly oppose any policy or enforcement action that restricts peaceful assembly or free expression? Your constituents are watching, and silence on this reads as complicity.