The First Amendment to the Constitution states: 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.
The Waco Police Department and other police departments blatantly tried to prevent a peaceful assembly and public officials have slandered the attendees ever since.
The majority of the 176 people arrested after the Waco Massacre were arrested because they were wearing motorcycle club indicia, or insignia, and such insignia is a constitutionally protected form of expression – even in Texas. Current case law can be succinctly summarized as: “Implicit in the right to engage in activities protected by the First Amendment is a corresponding right to associate with others in pursuit of a wide variety of political, social, economic, educational, religious, and cultural ends. This right is crucial in preventing the majority from imposing its views on groups that would rather express other, perhaps unpopular, ideas. Clothing identifying one’s association with an organization is generally considered expressive conduct entitled to First Amendment protection.”
The City of Waco is about to pay out a billion dollars in Court judgements. That's billion. With a capital B. When the initial $200 million is passed out to the families of the dead victims, the 176 will each file various suits. Hopefully these will be varied and numerous. That should cost the City smoother pile of money. Litigation costs could take another 35-50 million, and tie up the court system, costing untold amounts of money. Then, while all of that is going on, people like myself will surely ask their attorneys to file suits of every nature. The damages in this case are phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteThe damages in this case are phenomenal.
DeleteI thought the same before, but it's too bad it doesn't come out of their personal pockets instead of the taxpayer's.