Give an example of a time in your life that you have been impacted by the protections of civil liberties and/or civil rights. Was this a civil liberty or a civil right that was protected? How do you know? Explain what amendment or court case protected this liberty or right. (10 points) BoldItalicUnderline
One time in my life that I have been impacted by the protections of civil liberties was when I was able to freely express my opinions at a protest without fear of retaliation. This particular instance involved exercising my First Amendment right to freedom of speech and assembly. I know this was a civil liberty that was protected because the First Amendment specifically guarantees individuals the right to peacefully assemble and speak their minds without government interference.
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press. These protections were established in the landmark Supreme Court case of *Brandenburg v. Ohio* in 1969, where the Court ruled that government cannot punish inflammatory speech unless it is directed to inciting and likely to incite imminent lawless action. This case set the precedent for the protection of expressive activities such as protests and rallies, ensuring that individuals have the right to peacefully assemble and speak out against government actions. As such, I was able to exercise my civil liberty to protest without fear of retaliation, thanks to the protections provided by the First Amendment.