Time for US Congress to Address What it Means to Peaceably Assemble

Protest mobs hide behind the Constitutional Right to “peaceably assemble” but when the purpose of a mob is to protest with angry signs, verbal assaults, physical violence, and to block pathways, and to intimidate by force or coercion, it is not peaceably assembling.

Our Founding Fathers did not envision hateful mobs organized and paid for by political opponents intruding on another person's rallies and causing physical violence, duress, intimidation and such.

When you read their works, it is clear that they meant for these people who dissent to be able to meet together peaceably on their own, figure out what their stance is, and protest by making known their redress of grievances or publishing something or organizing a demonstration.

Protests ought to be looked at carefully, because fear, intimidation and often physical violence is involved. An individual who wants to protest something with a group, should not be able to go block the roadways leading into that group's meeting or line the streets where that group's supporters will have to pass to cause duress and to intimidate them. That is not peaceably assembling.

Even if no violence ensues, it is not peaceable. Supporters are not comfortable passing through an angry group that is against them, especially after having seen news of how uncontrollable these violent mobs are.

Congress needs to clarify the constitution or pass a law so that protesters or protest groups are not be able to meet closer than say, a quarter or half mile away from the people or location they are protesting.  Anyone caught within the "Peace Zone" should be charged and arrested for trespassing and if they get violent, charge them for a hate crime.

They are not peaceably assembling.

There is a distinct difference and it is Congress’ duty to address this problem and clarify it constitutionally or with a law so that angry and violent mobs do not get out of control and spark civil disorder and unrest that leads to unnecessary violence and death.