Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) is planning to attend a protest in support of First Amendment rights in North Carolina after measures were taken to shut down businesses and gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“It is time we all stand up for our First Amendment rights guaranteeing free speech, a free press, freedom to practice religion, and our freedom to assemble and petition our government for redress of grievances,” he said in a statement.
“I encourage others to join me doing that Tuesday morning at 11 in front of the Governor’s Mansion — while practicing safe social distancing,” he said.
The protest will take place next Tuesday, April 21, in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. After the protest, he will deliver copies of the U.S. Constitution to the Raleigh city government offices for the police chief, mayor, and city council, his office said.
The protest comes in response to a protester being arrested last week for protesting shutdown orders.
He added in his statement:
When we are emptying our jails of convicted criminals and filling them with protestors, when we are selling copious amounts of liquor from state-owned ABC stores yet banning churches from meeting, and when we are denying the press and public access to information government officials are using to make decisions, it is time to protest.
“We cannot allow the First Amendment to our Constitution to become this virus’s next victim,” he said.
President Trump on Thursday announced the White House’s plan to reopen the country as it begins to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
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