Colorado First Amendment attorney weighs in on the legalities of protest in government buildings

By Marissa Ventrelli | SOURCE: Colorado Politics

Political protests have happened in America since before it officially became a country. Many Americans point to the Constitution’s First Amendment as a defining principle. The Founding Fathers specifically forbid Congress from “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.”

However, as with just about any rule, there are exceptions. In light of recent protests at the Capitol in Denver, Colorado Politics spoke with First Amendment attorney Mike Beylkin of Zansberg Law to find out what protections protestors have inside the building and the potential legal implications that could lead to being removed from the premises.

When considering First Amendment law in the context of a government building, a good word to keep in mind is “decorum.” The Capitol’s decorum is essentially the level of etiquette everyone inside the building is expected to maintain. According to Beylkin, protesting inside the Capitol is allowed under the First Amendment — so long as it does not break decorum.

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