CHICAGO — After large scale protests and clashes with supporters led Donald Trump's campaign to cancel the presidential candidate's Chicago rally, observers from both sides of the aisle were quick to criticize the city for blocking "free speech."
Congratulations, Chicago protesters, for fighting “fascism” by threatening mob violence to shut down free speech.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) March 12, 2016
What happened in Chicago was an organized political hit job on Free Speech. Period.
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) March 12, 2016
This is called "assault" at the very minimum, unless it happens in #Chicago. There, it's known as "free speech." pic.twitter.com/LoG9ObAJrt
— ScottInSC (@ScottInSC) March 12, 2016
Since people are apparently claiming that the Chicago protests were an affront to free speech, re-upping this tweet. https://t.co/uNGBOLuREk
— Jack Jenkins (@jackmjenkins) March 12, 2016
To be clear: the First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly from laws passed by Congress that would prohibit them. As a refresher, here's the full text:
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.
Voices from one side drowning out their opponents do not constitute a Congressional act to silence Americans seeking to voice their opinions.
RELATED: Chicagoans Actually DO Protest Violence In Their Communities All The Time
But as Trump fans and foes took to social media this weekend to slam Chicago and its residents for "blocking free speech," residents pushed back, defending the city's stance on censoring unpopular opinions with a familiar face as a case study: Samuel Chambers, Chicago's "State Street Preacher."
A meme featuring Chambers circulated locally after Trump's rally was canceled and was shared more than 3,000 times:
Anyone who thinks Chicago has a problem with Freedom of Speech doesn't know this man
Posted by Khalid Kermit El-Amin on Saturday, March 12, 2016
Chambers has been preaching on State Street six days a week for 45 years, armed with a microphone and a small, portable speaker.
His strong religious views and propensity to comment on the behaviors of passerby have made him a polarizing figure on State Street, but aside from a recent 2014 scuffle, his commentary has been largely uninterrupted for decades.
As the viral Facebook meme argues: "anyone thinking Chicago denies Freedom of Speech doesn't know this guy."
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