First Amendment Takes a Back Seat in Chicago

On the same day that First Lady Nancy Reagan was laid to rest after enduring 94 years of a relatively free America, Fascism raised its ugly head in the City of Chicago.

As a Donald Trump rally was about to begin inside the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion, a "well-organized" group of protesters showed up and began to filter into the building, while hundreds remained outside in the streets, vowing to shut down the rally. Reportedly, over 20,000 people had showed up to listen to the Presidential front-runner. The tension was high enough for Donald Trump to cancel the rally out of concern for everyone's safety---"I didn't want to see anyone get hurt"---but the decimation of the peoples right to assemble was complete. The thugs won.

Reports came in that the left-wing group of Move-on-dot-org had organized and promoted the protest to specifically shut down the rally. While the Chicago City police outside attempted to maintain peace, State officers and Secret Service inside became concerned with the anti-Trump protesters plans to disrupt the rally, and after consulting the the Trump campaign, the decision to cancel the rally was made.

Interviews by the media of the outside protesters, (many carrying Bernie Sanders signs) revealed the intent to shut down the rally was the argument that this was Trump's fault for his stances on illegal immigration and calling for a temporary ban on importing Syrian refugees until they were properly vetted. People who had bought tickets and waited in line for hours to see Mr. Trump never got into the Pavilion, causing more frustration, as the protesters marched past them, and began to enter the building.

Shouts of "We won, we shut down Trump" were heard throughout the night, but, did they, [the protesters], really win? Or, was the people's First amendment rights to peacefully assemble and be heard lost to the thousands who had come to listen to Mr. Trump.  Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich didn't mince words in describing the tumultuous affair:

So the real American fascists stopped Trump rally tonight.Fascism in modern America is on the left--on college campuses, in left wing groups

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) March 12, 2016

To make matters worse, the cable nets and the mainstream media piled onto the "blame Trump" rhetoric, but failed to see the irony of First Amendment rights getting stomped into the ground.  Check out these headlines and judge for yourself:

Fox News Headline: 

RIVALS PLAY OFFENSE: Republican contenders point fingers at Trump
for chaotic scene at Chicago rally

MSNBC Online Headlines:

Rivals accuse Trump of encouraging violence

FIGHTIN' WORDS
Trump rhetoric escalates aggression

DECISION 2016
Standing up against Donald Trump

CNN Online Main Headline: Trump Tensions Erupt

Surprisingly, the New York Times appeared to write a more fair and balanced assessment of what occurred:

"CHICAGO — With thousands of people already packed into stands and music blaring to warm up the crowd, Donald J. Trump’s campaign abruptly canceled his rally here on Friday night over security concerns as protesters clashed with his supporters inside an arena where he was to speak. 

Minutes after Mr. Trump was to have taken to a podium on the campus of a large, diverse public university just west of downtown, an announcer suddenly pronounced the event over before it had begun. Hundreds of protesters, who had promised to be a visible presence here and filled several sections of the arena, let out an elated, unstopping cheer. Mr. Trump’s supporters, many of whom had waited hours to see the Republican front-runner, seemed stunned and slowly filed out in anger." 

Mr. Trump’s opponents, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Ted Cruz and Gov. John Kasich, condemned the disruptions, but said Mr. Trump was responsible for the tenor of his rallies. Mr. Cruz said Mr. Trump “affirmatively encourages violence.” 

The University of Illinois at Chicago draws a significant share of students from Chicago’s neighborhoods, and has a large number of international students, and planned protests were publicized on social media. Around 10,000 people had signed up on Facebook to take part in one anti-Trump march. Scores of faculty members had pleaded with administrators over allowing the rally in a letter, which read, in part: “We also request that the university publicly distance itself from the event and make a statement that the Trump rally is an anathema to the mission of U.I.C.”

It certainly sounds like the University of Illinois and Donald Trump's Republican opponents are on the same page.  

(Note: I will not post a photo of the despicable thugs who shut down freedom of speech last night---they deserve no credit or recognition.)