Rev. Mahoney and Mark correctly point out that that Capitol is the people’s house and has a rich history of First Amendment activity.
However, for the last 18 months, only members of Congress and their chosen friends – including radicals like Cori Bush – have been able to use the Capitol Grounds for protests and gatherings.
This is a blatant double standard and creates almost a caste-system – Congress and their friends, and everyone else.
As you know, we won a partial victory in this case when the U.S. Capitol Police Board changed its policy to open the Western Lawn for larger gatherings.
But they still require a permit for all gatherings of 20 or more people and refuse to open the rest of the Capitol grounds, so we’re moving forward with our case to open ALL of the Capitol Grounds.
The government is also still enforcing a “buffer zone” around the Capitol building whereby all First Amendment activity is banned.
Well, I should clarify, the government is selectively enforcing its speech-censoring buffer zone.
You see, Rep. Cori Bush was allowed to turn the Capitol steps into an occupy movement when she opposed the lifting of the eviction moratorium, yet Rev. Mahoney would get arrested if he, by himself, quietly prayed on the steps to the Capitol.
This double standard cannot stand.
Members of Congress and their friends should not be afforded greater free speech rights than the average American.
The beautiful thing about the First Amendment is that it applies to everyone equally regardless of status.
With your help, we’re going to stay in this fight until complete freedom of speech and freedom of religious gathering is allowed outside the people’s house.
Thank you for your continued support.
Onward to Victory,
