1/ A thought experiment designed specifically for the eyes of those who don't quite see the value of the right to protest:

Some of what follows may be obvious.

But given today's poll suggesting that fewer Americans value the right of protest than before, it's worth saying.

2/ Imagine that you don't like the sitting president.
You REALLY don't like him/her.
You consider this person dangerous.

Wouldn't you want to show people the danger?

Wouldn't you want to express your fears?

3/ You might want to organize with others to express your fears & hopes.

Maybe hold a march or a rally.

Get a lot of people together to really make a point.

4/ You'd probably want to be free to say what you think in print.

You'd probably want reporters to investigate those in power & report on what they see.

5/ In these ways & more, you would be trying to shape the political regime in power -- & possibly have an impact on the next one.

6/ You would be expressing your voice -- and your rights -- as an American.

Now -- of course & importantly -- there ARE limits on these rights, and there's a judiciary to debate these limits.

The limits matter.
A lot.

7/ The limits matter, & the rights matter too.

They are fundamental in a government that grants its people power.

When you surrender the right of protest or freedom of the press, you don't just surrender them for the moment, or for your opposition alone.

8/ When you surrender the right of protest or freedom of the press, you don't simply affect your opposition.

You silence everyone.

You strip everyone of their rights.

You shape the future as well as the present, in ways that might be irreversible.

9/ ...& at some point, when you're angry at those in power, by surrendering the right of protest & a free press NOW, you'll be silencing yourself THEN.

These rights are rare & valuable.
They deserve to be protected.
And once they're lost, they're VERY difficult to recover.