(TheIndependentStar.com) – Raising serious questions about the erosion of First Amendment rights, the Supreme Court has rejected a January 6 defendant’s appeal.
John Nassif, a Florida man convicted for being involved in the Capitol protests, saw his appeal denied without explanation.
Nassif received a harsh seven-month prison sentence for misdemeanors, including disorderly conduct and violent entry.
He challenged the constitutionality of a law banning “parading, picketing, and demonstrating” inside the Capitol.
In his appeal, he argued that this statute directly violates First Amendment protections.
The Supreme Court’s rejection of Nassif’s appeal leaves intact a troubling precedent set by lower courts, which declared that the Capitol is not a public forum for protests.
The D.C. Circuit classified the Capitol as a “nonpublic forum” that requires broader restrictions on speech, a dangerous step towards silencing dissent.
A three-judge panel ruled: “Nassif has not established that the Capitol buildings are, by policy or practice, generally open for use by members of the public to voice whatever concerns they may have — much less to use for protests, pickets, or demonstrations.”
The Supreme Court’s decision affects not just Nassif but also over 460 defendants who were charged with the same misdemeanor related to the January 6 protests.
While the justice system seems keen on persecuting Americans, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
President-elect Donald Trump has suggested he intends to right these wrongs by considering pardons for those caught up in the January 6 prosecutions.
“I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can’t say for every single one because a couple of them, probably they got out of control,” Trump said.
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