Chris Cuomo demands to know where it says protests must be 'peaceful.' Then he gets a lesson on the Constitution

Chris Cuomo, alleged lawyer

Chris Enloe

Image via Twitter @SteveGuest screenshot

CNN host Chris Cuomo is a law school graduate and licensed attorney — but he apparently does not know what the First Amendment says.

Speaking on his show Tuesday, Cuomo rebuked those who "see the protests as the problem" and demanded that riot critics show him where it says demonstrators must protest peacefully.

"Now too many see the protests as the problem. No, the problem is what forced your fellow citizens to take to the streets: persistent, poisonous inequities and injustice," Cuomo said. "And please, show me where it says protesters are supposed to be polite and peaceful. Because I can show you that outraged citizens are what made the country what she is and led to any major milestone. To be honest, this is not a tranquil time."

Later, Cuomo declared that police officers are those required to remain peaceful — not demonstrators.

"Police are the ones required to be peaceful, to de-escalate, to remain calm," he said.

CNN's Chris Cuomo: "Please, show me where it says protesters are supposed to be polite and peaceful."

As riots and looting have broken out in cities across the country, this is the message the brother of New York governor Andrew Cuomo shares at the top of his show. pic.twitter.com/ZZ47zpyVlx

— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 3, 2020

As many people on social media were quick to point out, there is a very prominent place in American law that says protests must be peaceful: the U.S. Constitution.

People responded:

·         Ben Domenech: "Yeah it's not like the First Amendment specifies our rights as 'peaceably to assemble'"

·         Dana Loesch replied with screenshots of the First Amendment, where the it declares protests must be peaceful

·         Sean Fitzgerald: "1st Amendment @ChrisCuomo 'the right of the people peaceably to assemble'"

·         "Uhhhh ... that would be the #1A. In the Constitution. Apparently Chris Boy has never read it," another person responded

·         "It's literally the 1st amendment," Twitter user Kenny Chessor said

Indeed, the First Amendment enumerates five well-known rights to all citizens — but there is a caveat added to the fourth right, the right to assemble in protest.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances," the First Amendment declares.

There's your answer, Christopher Cuomo, Esq.

Chris Enloe, The Blaze, June 3, 2020