Hi The articles "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" and "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" both engage in conflicts pertaining to the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
"Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" is an article about the KKK's attempt to spread their beliefs through a public access cable television channel. Dennis Mahon and Allan Moran, both of the KKK, asked to be broadcasted on air in 1987, and the whole situation led to a major problem. The KKK is known for its killings, prejudice, and cross burnings, and they wanted to be shown on television to further spread their message. The First Amendment states the right to the freedom of speech, but many of the community members had a problem with the whole situation. People with race relations, local leaders, and members of the cable company did not want to grant the KKK the right to appear on air. Black ministers and important politicians were not happy with the KKK's request to voice their opinions. The KKK complied with all of the rules that were presented by the cable company, even when they were told to create a locally produced show and receive training in video production. They happily obeyed the regulations and didn't cause additional problems to what they were soon to face. The cable company studio was located in a neighborhood that was 95% black, and violence was a major concern for the cable company. Many of those people threatened to drop their cable subscriptions if the KKK were given their airtime. One of the greatest oppositions to the KKK was Reverend Emanuel Cleaver, a pastor of the Saint James-Paseo United Methodist Church and a member of the Kansas City Council. Reverend Cleaver was a notable man and was also one the victims of a KKK cross burning on his property. The Kansas City area was one of the most segregated areas in the country and there had been other continuing incidents of graffiti and harassment to black members of the community. Reverend Cleaver believed that the KKK should not be granted the ability to exercise their freedom of speech because they were a "terrorist organization" and murderers of thousands of people across the country. The only solution to keeping the show off the air was to prove that the "Klansas City Kable" would trigger violence in the neighborhood. Because none of the episodes of "Klansas City Kable" had been created yet, Reverend Cleaver had to turn to another idea. He presented the idea of eliminating the public access channel altogether. Finally, on June 16, 1988, the city council of Kansas City voted 9 to 2 to drop the public access channel. Surprisingly, one of the two votes against the idea was Joanne Collins. She got a lot of attention because she was black. She believed the freedom of speech should not be withheld from anyone, even if it was the KKK. This event caused much debate and officials battered over what the First Amendment stood for. Because the public access channel was dropped, Pevar filed a suit in federal district court on behalf of the KKK: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City. He stated that the city had discriminated against the KKK, and along with violating the freedom of speech; the cable company had violated the viewers' right to watch uncensored programs. The city countered by saying the channel was private property and the KKK was not deprived its right to speak. They could still speak freely by way of rallies, telephone, leaflets, radio, marches, and being invited to TV talk shows. The district ruled in favor of the KKK on May 26, 1989, and stated that it could win a trial and a trail date was set for September. The city was on the brink of a budget crisis, so they offered to settle. The KKK rejected the offer and countered with two additional conditions. On June 13, 1989, the city council voted on the reinstating of the public access channel. The result was seven to three, in favor of the channel being reinstated. The first episode of the "Klansas City Kable" eventually aired on April 3, 1990, but a second episode of the show has never aired because the citizens of Kansas City elected Emanuel Cleaver as their mayor during that same month.
I found the article "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" very interesting. The ending was a bit ironic because a major opposition to the KKK was elected into power and the KKK never got to air their second episode. The article displays many conflicts that arise because of the interpretation of the First Amendment. There were two important opinions from two notable black citizens on the case. One was Reverend Cleaver's, who believed the KKK were terrorists and were sprouting new seeds by being broadcasted. The other was Joanne Collins, who believed that everyone should be granted the freedom of speech, regardless of their affiliations. I agree with Emanuel Cleaver's view on the KKK situation. I believe the KKK should not be granted their freedom of speech because of their killings, cross burnings, and prejudice.
The second article, "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association," was about the infringement on religion by building a road through an important Indian cemetery. The World Renewable Ceremonies, which are performed to protect the earth from catastrophe, were supposed to be performed in an area in northern California. Many of the Indians that had left their tribes to find the wealth on the "other side of the mountain" returned to their ancestral grounds. Many of the Indians found peace in their lands and in isolation from the "white man's world." According to the Indian mythology, only certain families had the right to give dances and own great responsibility. The ceremonies start by these special families paying up all the debts that are owed. Next the medicine man must prepare himself for the rituals. Once he is pure, he makes his journey to the Siskiyou Mountains in northern California. After reaching the sacred area of Chimney Rock, the medicine man enters a trance-like state. This area, along with Medicine Mountain, is very sacred, and the Forest Service was creating a road that ran through this area. The route was known as the G-O Road. The road was started at opposite ends and the final 6-mile section to complete the road encroached on religious land. The Indians believed that this road would disturb the peace and isolation from the outer world. The Indians filed a lawsuit against U.S. Forest Service in federal district court in San Francisco. They claimed that the G-O Road would "destroy the solitude, privacy, and undisturbed natural setting necessary to Indian religious practices, thereby violating their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion." Finally in 1983, the Federal District Court ruled in favor of the Indians claiming that the G-O Road would unconstitutionally violate their rights of freedom of religion and the practice of it. The case was appealed and it eventually ended up in the Supreme Court. The Indians based their argument on "Wisconsin v. Yoder." The Indians wanted to be left alone, like the Amish, to practice their religion. The Forest Service Countered by stating that this would inspire other religious groups to block government projects on land. The Indians lost by just one vote, but nonetheless, they continued to fight and challenge the Forest Service for the completion of the G-O Road. On October 28, 1990, the 101st Congress passed the legislation adding the G-O Road corridor to the wilderness area. The road was left uncompleted because of environmental reasons, not because of the Indians' fight for their First Amendment.
"Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" provided a great example dealing with the freedom of religion. The Indians had been living on that land for hundreds of years, yet were denied their attempts to declare the area as a sacred area to prevent building on the lands. In the end it was a bittersweet victory for the Indians because the G-O Road was ordered to remain uncompleted because of the environment and not because it was a sacred territory for Indians. I believe that the Indians should have won the case in the Supreme Court because they were protected by the First Amendment. The case shouldn't have lasted as long as it did.
The articles "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" and "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" both engage in conflicts pertaining to the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
"Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" is an article about the KKK's attempt to spread their beliefs through a public access cable television channel. Dennis Mahon and Allan Moran, both of the KKK, asked to be broadcasted on air in 1987, and the whole situation led to a major problem. The KKK is known for its killings, prejudice, and cross burnings, and they wanted to be shown on television to further spread their message. The First Amendment states the right to the freedom of speech, but many of the community members had a problem with the whole situation. People with race relations, local leaders, and members of the cable company did not want to grant the KKK the right to appear on air. Black ministers and important politicians were not happy with the KKK's request to voice their opinions. The KKK complied with all of the rules that were presented by the cable company, even when they were told to create a locally produced show and receive training in video production. They happily obeyed the regulations and didn't cause additional problems to what they were soon to face. The cable company studio was located in a neighborhood that was 95% black, and violence was a major concern for the cable company. Many of those people threatened to drop their cable subscriptions if the KKK were given their airtime. One of the greatest oppositions to the KKK was Reverend Emanuel Cleaver, a pastor of the Saint James-Paseo United Methodist Church and a member of the Kansas City Council. Reverend Cleaver was a notable man and was also one the victims of a KKK cross burning on his property. The Kansas City area was one of the most segregated areas in the country and there had been other continuing incidents of graffiti and harassment to black members of the community. Reverend Cleaver believed that the KKK should not be granted the ability to exercise their freedom of speech because they were a "terrorist organization" and murderers of thousands of people across the country. The only solution to keeping the show off the air was to prove that the "Klansas City Kable" would trigger violence in the neighborhood. Because none of the episodes of "Klansas City Kable" had been created yet, Reverend Cleaver had to turn to another idea. He presented the idea of eliminating the public access channel altogether. Finally, on June 16, 1988, the city council of Kansas City voted 9 to 2 to drop the public access channel. Surprisingly, one of the two votes against the idea was Joanne Collins. She got a lot of attention because she was black. She believed the freedom of speech should not be withheld from anyone, even if it was the KKK. This event caused much debate and officials battered over what the First Amendment stood for. Because the public access channel was dropped, Pevar filed a suit in federal district court on behalf of the KKK: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City. He stated that the city had discriminated against the KKK, and along with violating the freedom of speech; the cable company had violated the viewers' right to watch uncensored programs. The city countered by saying the channel was private property and the KKK was not deprived its right to speak. They could still speak freely by way of rallies, telephone, leaflets, radio, marches, and being invited to TV talk shows. The district ruled in favor of the KKK on May 26, 1989, and stated that it could win a trial and a trail date was set for September. The city was on the brink of a budget crisis, so they offered to settle. The KKK rejected the offer and countered with two additional conditions. On June 13, 1989, the city council voted on the reinstating of the public access channel. The result was seven to three, in favor of the channel being reinstated. The first episode of the "Klansas City Kable" eventually aired on April 3, 1990, but a second episode of the show has never aired because the citizens of Kansas City elected Emanuel Cleaver as their mayor during that same month.
I found the article "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" very interesting. The ending was a bit ironic because a major opposition to the KKK was elected into power and the KKK never got to air their second episode. The article displays many conflicts that arise because of the interpretation of the First Amendment. There were two important opinions from two notable black citizens on the case. One was Reverend Cleaver's, who believed the KKK were terrorists and were sprouting new seeds by being broadcasted. The other was Joanne Collins, who believed that everyone should be granted the freedom of speech, regardless of their affiliations. I agree with Emanuel Cleaver's view on the KKK situation. I believe the KKK should not be granted their freedom of speech because of their killings, cross burnings, and prejudice.
The second article, "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association," was about the infringement on religion by building a road through an important Indian cemetery. The World Renewable Ceremonies, which are performed to protect the earth from catastrophe, were supposed to be performed in an area in northern California. Many of the Indians that had left their tribes to find the wealth on the "other side of the mountain" returned to their ancestral grounds. Many of the Indians found peace in their lands and in isolation from the "white man's world." According to the Indian mythology, only certain families had the right to give dances and own great responsibility. The ceremonies start by these special families paying up all the debts that are owed. Next the medicine man must prepare himself for the rituals. Once he is pure, he makes his journey to the Siskiyou Mountains in northern California. After reaching the sacred area of Chimney Rock, the medicine man enters a trance-like state. This area, along with Medicine Mountain, is very sacred, and the Forest Service was creating a road that ran through this area. The route was known as the G-O Road. The road was started at opposite ends and the final 6-mile section to complete the road encroached on religious land. The Indians believed that this road would disturb the peace and isolation from the outer world. The Indians filed a lawsuit against U.S. Forest Service in federal district court in San Francisco. They claimed that the G-O Road would "destroy the solitude, privacy, and undisturbed natural setting necessary to Indian religious practices, thereby violating their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion." Finally in 1983, the Federal District Court ruled in favor of the Indians claiming that the G-O Road would unconstitutionally violate their rights of freedom of religion and the practice of it. The case was appealed and it eventually ended up in the Supreme Court. The Indians based their argument on "Wisconsin v. Yoder." The Indians wanted to be left alone, like the Amish, to practice their religion. The Forest Service Countered by stating that this would inspire other religious groups to block government projects on land. The Indians lost by just one vote, but nonetheless, they continued to fight and challenge the Forest Service for the completion of the G-O Road. On October 28, 1990, the 101st Congress passed the legislation adding the G-O Road corridor to the wilderness area. The road was left uncompleted because of environmental reasons, not because of the Indians' fight for their First Amendment.
"Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" provided a great example dealing with the freedom of religion. The Indians had been living on that land for hundreds of years, yet were denied their attempts to declare the area as a sacred area to prevent building on the lands. In the end it was a bittersweet victory for the Indians because the G-O Road was ordered to remain uncompleted because of the environment and not because it was a sacred territory for Indians. I believe that the Indians should have won the case in the Supreme Court because they were protected by the First Amendment. The case shouldn't have lasted as long as it did.
The articles "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" and "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" both engage in conflicts pertaining to the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
"Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" is an article about the KKK's attempt to spread their beliefs through a public access cable television channel. Dennis Mahon and Allan Moran, both of the KKK, asked to be broadcasted on air in 1987, and the whole situation led to a major problem. The KKK is known for its killings, prejudice, and cross burnings, and they wanted to be shown on television to further spread their message. The First Amendment states the right to the freedom of speech, but many of the community members had a problem with the whole situation. People with race relations, local leaders, and members of the cable company did not want to grant the KKK the right to appear on air. Black ministers and important politicians were not happy with the KKK's request to voice their opinions. The KKK complied with all of the rules that were presented by the cable company, even when they were told to create a locally produced show and receive training in video production. They happily obeyed the regulations and didn't cause additional problems to what they were soon to face. The cable company studio was located in a neighborhood that was 95% black, and violence was a major concern for the cable company. Many of those people threatened to drop their cable subscriptions if the KKK were given their airtime. One of the greatest oppositions to the KKK was Reverend Emanuel Cleaver, a pastor of the Saint James-Paseo United Methodist Church and a member of the Kansas City Council. Reverend Cleaver was a notable man and was also one the victims of a KKK cross burning on his property. The Kansas City area was one of the most segregated areas in the country and there had been other continuing incidents of graffiti and harassment to black members of the community. Reverend Cleaver believed that the KKK should not be granted the ability to exercise their freedom of speech because they were a "terrorist organization" and murderers of thousands of people across the country. The only solution to keeping the show off the air was to prove that the "Klansas City Kable" would trigger violence in the neighborhood. Because none of the episodes of "Klansas City Kable" had been created yet, Reverend Cleaver had to turn to another idea. He presented the idea of eliminating the public access channel altogether. Finally, on June 16, 1988, the city council of Kansas City voted 9 to 2 to drop the public access channel. Surprisingly, one of the two votes against the idea was Joanne Collins. She got a lot of attention because she was black. She believed the freedom of speech should not be withheld from anyone, even if it was the KKK. This event caused much debate and officials battered over what the First Amendment stood for. Because the public access channel was dropped, Pevar filed a suit in federal district court on behalf of the KKK: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City. He stated that the city had discriminated against the KKK, and along with violating the freedom of speech; the cable company had violated the viewers' right to watch uncensored programs. The city countered by saying the channel was private property and the KKK was not deprived its right to speak. They could still speak freely by way of rallies, telephone, leaflets, radio, marches, and being invited to TV talk shows. The district ruled in favor of the KKK on May 26, 1989, and stated that it could win a trial and a trail date was set for September. The city was on the brink of a budget crisis, so they offered to settle. The KKK rejected the offer and countered with two additional conditions. On June 13, 1989, the city council voted on the reinstating of the public access channel. The result was seven to three, in favor of the channel being reinstated. The first episode of the "Klansas City Kable" eventually aired on April 3, 1990, but a second episode of the show has never aired because the citizens of Kansas City elected Emanuel Cleaver as their mayor during that same month.
I found the article "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" very interesting. The ending was a bit ironic because a major opposition to the KKK was elected into power and the KKK never got to air their second episode. The article displays many conflicts that arise because of the interpretation of the First Amendment. There were two important opinions from two notable black citizens on the case. One was Reverend Cleaver's, who believed the KKK were terrorists and were sprouting new seeds by being broadcasted. The other was Joanne Collins, who believed that everyone should be granted the freedom of speech, regardless of their affiliations. I agree with Emanuel Cleaver's view on the KKK situation. I believe the KKK should not be granted their freedom of speech because of their killings, cross burnings, and prejudice.
The second article, "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association," was about the infringement on religion by building a road through an important Indian cemetery. The World Renewable Ceremonies, which are performed to protect the earth from catastrophe, were supposed to be performed in an area in northern California. Many of the Indians that had left their tribes to find the wealth on the "other side of the mountain" returned to their ancestral grounds. Many of the Indians found peace in their lands and in isolation from the "white man's world." According to the Indian mythology, only certain families had the right to give dances and own great responsibility. The ceremonies start by these special families paying up all the debts that are owed. Next the medicine man must prepare himself for the rituals. Once he is pure, he makes his journey to the Siskiyou Mountains in northern California. After reaching the sacred area of Chimney Rock, the medicine man enters a trance-like state. This area, along with Medicine Mountain, is very sacred, and the Forest Service was creating a road that ran through this area. The route was known as the G-O Road. The road was started at opposite ends and the final 6-mile section to complete the road encroached on religious land. The Indians believed that this road would disturb the peace and isolation from the outer world. The Indians filed a lawsuit against U.S. Forest Service in federal district court in San Francisco. They claimed that the G-O Road would "destroy the solitude, privacy, and undisturbed natural setting necessary to Indian religious practices, thereby violating their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion." Finally in 1983, the Federal District Court ruled in favor of the Indians claiming that the G-O Road would unconstitutionally violate their rights of freedom of religion and the practice of it. The case was appealed and it eventually ended up in the Supreme Court. The Indians based their argument on "Wisconsin v. Yoder." The Indians wanted to be left alone, like the Amish, to practice their religion. The Forest Service Countered by stating that this would inspire other religious groups to block government projects on land. The Indians lost by just one vote, but nonetheless, they continued to fight and challenge the Forest Service for the completion of the G-O Road. On October 28, 1990, the 101st Congress passed the legislation adding the G-O Road corridor to the wilderness area. The road was left uncompleted because of environmental reasons, not because of the Indians' fight for their First Amendment.
"Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" provided a great example dealing with the freedom of religion. The Indians had been living on that land for hundreds of years, yet were denied their attempts to declare the area as a sacred area to prevent building on the lands. In the end it was a bittersweet victory for the Indians because the G-O Road was ordered to remain uncompleted because of the environment and not because it was a sacred territory for Indians. I believe that the Indians should have won the case in the Supreme Court because they were protected by the First Amendment. The case shouldn't have lasted as long as it did.
The articles "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" and "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" both engage in conflicts pertaining to the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
"Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" is an article about the KKK's attempt to spread their beliefs through a public access cable television channel. Dennis Mahon and Allan Moran, both of the KKK, asked to be broadcasted on air in 1987, and the whole situation led to a major problem. The KKK is known for its killings, prejudice, and cross burnings, and they wanted to be shown on television to further spread their message. The First Amendment states the right to the freedom of speech, but many of the community members had a problem with the whole situation. People with race relations, local leaders, and members of the cable company did not want to grant the KKK the right to appear on air. Black ministers and important politicians were not happy with the KKK's request to voice their opinions. The KKK complied with all of the rules that were presented by the cable company, even when they were told to create a locally produced show and receive training in video production. They happily obeyed the regulations and didn't cause additional problems to what they were soon to face. The cable company studio was located in a neighborhood that was 95% black, and violence was a major concern for the cable company. Many of those people threatened to drop their cable subscriptions if the KKK were given their airtime. One of the greatest oppositions to the KKK was Reverend Emanuel Cleaver, a pastor of the Saint James-Paseo United Methodist Church and a member of the Kansas City Council. Reverend Cleaver was a notable man and was also one the victims of a KKK cross burning on his property. The Kansas City area was one of the most segregated areas in the country and there had been other continuing incidents of graffiti and harassment to black members of the community. Reverend Cleaver believed that the KKK should not be granted the ability to exercise their freedom of speech because they were a "terrorist organization" and murderers of thousands of people across the country. The only solution to keeping the show off the air was to prove that the "Klansas City Kable" would trigger violence in the neighborhood. Because none of the episodes of "Klansas City Kable" had been created yet, Reverend Cleaver had to turn to another idea. He presented the idea of eliminating the public access channel altogether. Finally, on June 16, 1988, the city council of Kansas City voted 9 to 2 to drop the public access channel. Surprisingly, one of the two votes against the idea was Joanne Collins. She got a lot of attention because she was black. She believed the freedom of speech should not be withheld from anyone, even if it was the KKK. This event caused much debate and officials battered over what the First Amendment stood for. Because the public access channel was dropped, Pevar filed a suit in federal district court on behalf of the KKK: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City. He stated that the city had discriminated against the KKK, and along with violating the freedom of speech; the cable company had violated the viewers' right to watch uncensored programs. The city countered by saying the channel was private property and the KKK was not deprived its right to speak. They could still speak freely by way of rallies, telephone, leaflets, radio, marches, and being invited to TV talk shows. The district ruled in favor of the KKK on May 26, 1989, and stated that it could win a trial and a trail date was set for September. The city was on the brink of a budget crisis, so they offered to settle. The KKK rejected the offer and countered with two additional conditions. On June 13, 1989, the city council voted on the reinstating of the public access channel. The result was seven to three, in favor of the channel being reinstated. The first episode of the "Klansas City Kable" eventually aired on April 3, 1990, but a second episode of the show has never aired because the citizens of Kansas City elected Emanuel Cleaver as their mayor during that same month.
I found the article "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" very interesting. The ending was a bit ironic because a major opposition to the KKK was elected into power and the KKK never got to air their second episode. The article displays many conflicts that arise because of the interpretation of the First Amendment. There were two important opinions from two notable black citizens on the case. One was Reverend Cleaver's, who believed the KKK were terrorists and were sprouting new seeds by being broadcasted. The other was Joanne Collins, who believed that everyone should be granted the freedom of speech, regardless of their affiliations. I agree with Emanuel Cleaver's view on the KKK situation. I believe the KKK should not be granted their freedom of speech because of their killings, cross burnings, and prejudice.
The second article, "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association," was about the infringement on religion by building a road through an important Indian cemetery. The World Renewable Ceremonies, which are performed to protect the earth from catastrophe, were supposed to be performed in an area in northern California. Many of the Indians that had left their tribes to find the wealth on the "other side of the mountain" returned to their ancestral grounds. Many of the Indians found peace in their lands and in isolation from the "white man's world." According to the Indian mythology, only certain families had the right to give dances and own great responsibility. The ceremonies start by these special families paying up all the debts that are owed. Next the medicine man must prepare himself for the rituals. Once he is pure, he makes his journey to the Siskiyou Mountains in northern California. After reaching the sacred area of Chimney Rock, the medicine man enters a trance-like state. This area, along with Medicine Mountain, is very sacred, and the Forest Service was creating a road that ran through this area. The route was known as the G-O Road. The road was started at opposite ends and the final 6-mile section to complete the road encroached on religious land. The Indians believed that this road would disturb the peace and isolation from the outer world. The Indians filed a lawsuit against U.S. Forest Service in federal district court in San Francisco. They claimed that the G-O Road would "destroy the solitude, privacy, and undisturbed natural setting necessary to Indian religious practices, thereby violating their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion." Finally in 1983, the Federal District Court ruled in favor of the Indians claiming that the G-O Road would unconstitutionally violate their rights of freedom of religion and the practice of it. The case was appealed and it eventually ended up in the Supreme Court. The Indians based their argument on "Wisconsin v. Yoder." The Indians wanted to be left alone, like the Amish, to practice their religion. The Forest Service Countered by stating that this would inspire other religious groups to block government projects on land. The Indians lost by just one vote, but nonetheless, they continued to fight and challenge the Forest Service for the completion of the G-O Road. On October 28, 1990, the 101st Congress passed the legislation adding the G-O Road corridor to the wilderness area. The road was left uncompleted because of environmental reasons, not because of the Indians' fight for their First Amendment.
"Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" provided a great example dealing with the freedom of religion. The Indians had been living on that land for hundreds of years, yet were denied their attempts to declare the area as a sacred area to prevent building on the lands. In the end it was a bittersweet victory for the Indians because the G-O Road was ordered to remain uncompleted because of the environment and not because it was a sacred territory for Indians. I believe that the Indians should have won the case in the Supreme Court because they were protected by the First Amendment. The case shouldn't have lasted as long as it did.
The articles "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" and "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" both engage in conflicts pertaining to the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
"Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" is an article about the KKK's attempt to spread their beliefs through a public access cable television channel. Dennis Mahon and Allan Moran, both of the KKK, asked to be broadcasted on air in 1987, and the whole situation led to a major problem. The KKK is known for its killings, prejudice, and cross burnings, and they wanted to be shown on television to further spread their message. The First Amendment states the right to the freedom of speech, but many of the community members had a problem with the whole situation. People with race relations, local leaders, and members of the cable company did not want to grant the KKK the right to appear on air. Black ministers and important politicians were not happy with the KKK's request to voice their opinions. The KKK complied with all of the rules that were presented by the cable company, even when they were told to create a locally produced show and receive training in video production. They happily obeyed the regulations and didn't cause additional problems to what they were soon to face. The cable company studio was located in a neighborhood that was 95% black, and violence was a major concern for the cable company. Many of those people threatened to drop their cable subscriptions if the KKK were given their airtime. One of the greatest oppositions to the KKK was Reverend Emanuel Cleaver, a pastor of the Saint James-Paseo United Methodist Church and a member of the Kansas City Council. Reverend Cleaver was a notable man and was also one the victims of a KKK cross burning on his property. The Kansas City area was one of the most segregated areas in the country and there had been other continuing incidents of graffiti and harassment to black members of the community. Reverend Cleaver believed that the KKK should not be granted the ability to exercise their freedom of speech because they were a "terrorist organization" and murderers of thousands of people across the country. The only solution to keeping the show off the air was to prove that the "Klansas City Kable" would trigger violence in the neighborhood. Because none of the episodes of "Klansas City Kable" had been created yet, Reverend Cleaver had to turn to another idea. He presented the idea of eliminating the public access channel altogether. Finally, on June 16, 1988, the city council of Kansas City voted 9 to 2 to drop the public access channel. Surprisingly, one of the two votes against the idea was Joanne Collins. She got a lot of attention because she was black. She believed the freedom of speech should not be withheld from anyone, even if it was the KKK. This event caused much debate and officials battered over what the First Amendment stood for. Because the public access channel was dropped, Pevar filed a suit in federal district court on behalf of the KKK: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City. He stated that the city had discriminated against the KKK, and along with violating the freedom of speech; the cable company had violated the viewers' right to watch uncensored programs. The city countered by saying the channel was private property and the KKK was not deprived its right to speak. They could still speak freely by way of rallies, telephone, leaflets, radio, marches, and being invited to TV talk shows. The district ruled in favor of the KKK on May 26, 1989, and stated that it could win a trial and a trail date was set for September. The city was on the brink of a budget crisis, so they offered to settle. The KKK rejected the offer and countered with two additional conditions. On June 13, 1989, the city council voted on the reinstating of the public access channel. The result was seven to three, in favor of the channel being reinstated. The first episode of the "Klansas City Kable" eventually aired on April 3, 1990, but a second episode of the show has never aired because the citizens of Kansas City elected Emanuel Cleaver as their mayor during that same month.
I found the article "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" very interesting. The ending was a bit ironic because a major opposition to the KKK was elected into power and the KKK never got to air their second episode. The article displays many conflicts that arise because of the interpretation of the First Amendment. There were two important opinions from two notable black citizens on the case. One was Reverend Cleaver's, who believed the KKK were terrorists and were sprouting new seeds by being broadcasted. The other was Joanne Collins, who believed that everyone should be granted the freedom of speech, regardless of their affiliations. I agree with Emanuel Cleaver's view on the KKK situation. I believe the KKK should not be granted their freedom of speech because of their killings, cross burnings, and prejudice.
The second article, "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association," was about the infringement on religion by building a road through an important Indian cemetery. The World Renewable Ceremonies, which are performed to protect the earth from catastrophe, were supposed to be performed in an area in northern California. Many of the Indians that had left their tribes to find the wealth on the "other side of the mountain" returned to their ancestral grounds. Many of the Indians found peace in their lands and in isolation from the "white man's world." According to the Indian mythology, only certain families had the right to give dances and own great responsibility. The ceremonies start by these special families paying up all the debts that are owed. Next the medicine man must prepare himself for the rituals. Once he is pure, he makes his journey to the Siskiyou Mountains in northern California. After reaching the sacred area of Chimney Rock, the medicine man enters a trance-like state. This area, along with Medicine Mountain, is very sacred, and the Forest Service was creating a road that ran through this area. The route was known as the G-O Road. The road was started at opposite ends and the final 6-mile section to complete the road encroached on religious land. The Indians believed that this road would disturb the peace and isolation from the outer world. The Indians filed a lawsuit against U.S. Forest Service in federal district court in San Francisco. They claimed that the G-O Road would "destroy the solitude, privacy, and undisturbed natural setting necessary to Indian religious practices, thereby violating their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion." Finally in 1983, the Federal District Court ruled in favor of the Indians claiming that the G-O Road would unconstitutionally violate their rights of freedom of religion and the practice of it. The case was appealed and it eventually ended up in the Supreme Court. The Indians based their argument on "Wisconsin v. Yoder." The Indians wanted to be left alone, like the Amish, to practice their religion. The Forest Service Countered by stating that this would inspire other religious groups to block government projects on land. The Indians lost by just one vote, but nonetheless, they continued to fight and challenge the Forest Service for the completion of the G-O Road. On October 28, 1990, the 101st Congress passed the legislation adding the G-O Road corridor to the wilderness area. The road was left uncompleted because of environmental reasons, not because of the Indians' fight for their First Amendment.
"Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" provided a great example dealing with the freedom of religion. The Indians had been living on that land for hundreds of years, yet were denied their attempts to declare the area as a sacred area to prevent building on the lands. In the end it was a bittersweet victory for the Indians because the G-O Road was ordered to remain uncompleted because of the environment and not because it was a sacred territory for Indians. I believe that the Indians should have won the case in the Supreme Court because they were protected by the First Amendment. The case shouldn't have lasted as long as it did.
The articles "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" and "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" both engage in conflicts pertaining to the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
"Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" is an article about the KKK's attempt to spread their beliefs through a public access cable television channel. Dennis Mahon and Allan Moran, both of the KKK, asked to be broadcasted on air in 1987, and the whole situation led to a major problem. The KKK is known for its killings, prejudice, and cross burnings, and they wanted to be shown on television to further spread their message. The First Amendment states the right to the freedom of speech, but many of the community members had a problem with the whole situation. People with race relations, local leaders, and members of the cable company did not want to grant the KKK the right to appear on air. Black ministers and important politicians were not happy with the KKK's request to voice their opinions. The KKK complied with all of the rules that were presented by the cable company, even when they were told to create a locally produced show and receive training in video production. They happily obeyed the regulations and didn't cause additional problems to what they were soon to face. The cable company studio was located in a neighborhood that was 95% black, and violence was a major concern for the cable company. Many of those people threatened to drop their cable subscriptions if the KKK were given their airtime. One of the greatest oppositions to the KKK was Reverend Emanuel Cleaver, a pastor of the Saint James-Paseo United Methodist Church and a member of the Kansas City Council. Reverend Cleaver was a notable man and was also one the victims of a KKK cross burning on his property. The Kansas City area was one of the most segregated areas in the country and there had been other continuing incidents of graffiti and harassment to black members of the community. Reverend Cleaver believed that the KKK should not be granted the ability to exercise their freedom of speech because they were a "terrorist organization" and murderers of thousands of people across the country. The only solution to keeping the show off the air was to prove that the "Klansas City Kable" would trigger violence in the neighborhood. Because none of the episodes of "Klansas City Kable" had been created yet, Reverend Cleaver had to turn to another idea. He presented the idea of eliminating the public access channel altogether. Finally, on June 16, 1988, the city council of Kansas City voted 9 to 2 to drop the public access channel. Surprisingly, one of the two votes against the idea was Joanne Collins. She got a lot of attention because she was black. She believed the freedom of speech should not be withheld from anyone, even if it was the KKK. This event caused much debate and officials battered over what the First Amendment stood for. Because the public access channel was dropped, Pevar filed a suit in federal district court on behalf of the KKK: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City. He stated that the city had discriminated against the KKK, and along with violating the freedom of speech; the cable company had violated the viewers' right to watch uncensored programs. The city countered by saying the channel was private property and the KKK was not deprived its right to speak. They could still speak freely by way of rallies, telephone, leaflets, radio, marches, and being invited to TV talk shows. The district ruled in favor of the KKK on May 26, 1989, and stated that it could win a trial and a trail date was set for September. The city was on the brink of a budget crisis, so they offered to settle. The KKK rejected the offer and countered with two additional conditions. On June 13, 1989, the city council voted on the reinstating of the public access channel. The result was seven to three, in favor of the channel being reinstated. The first episode of the "Klansas City Kable" eventually aired on April 3, 1990, but a second episode of the show has never aired because the citizens of Kansas City elected Emanuel Cleaver as their mayor during that same month.
I found the article "Freedom of Speech: Missouri Knights of the Ku Klux Klan v. Kansas City" very interesting. The ending was a bit ironic because a major opposition to the KKK was elected into power and the KKK never got to air their second episode. The article displays many conflicts that arise because of the interpretation of the First Amendment. There were two important opinions from two notable black citizens on the case. One was Reverend Cleaver's, who believed the KKK were terrorists and were sprouting new seeds by being broadcasted. The other was Joanne Collins, who believed that everyone should be granted the freedom of speech, regardless of their affiliations. I agree with Emanuel Cleaver's view on the KKK situation. I believe the KKK should not be granted their freedom of speech because of their killings, cross burnings, and prejudice.
The second article, "Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association," was about the infringement on religion by building a road through an important Indian cemetery. The World Renewable Ceremonies, which are performed to protect the earth from catastrophe, were supposed to be performed in an area in northern California. Many of the Indians that had left their tribes to find the wealth on the "other side of the mountain" returned to their ancestral grounds. Many of the Indians found peace in their lands and in isolation from the "white man's world." According to the Indian mythology, only certain families had the right to give dances and own great responsibility. The ceremonies start by these special families paying up all the debts that are owed. Next the medicine man must prepare himself for the rituals. Once he is pure, he makes his journey to the Siskiyou Mountains in northern California. After reaching the sacred area of Chimney Rock, the medicine man enters a trance-like state. This area, along with Medicine Mountain, is very sacred, and the Forest Service was creating a road that ran through this area. The route was known as the G-O Road. The road was started at opposite ends and the final 6-mile section to complete the road encroached on religious land. The Indians believed that this road would disturb the peace and isolation from the outer world. The Indians filed a lawsuit against U.S. Forest Service in federal district court in San Francisco. They claimed that the G-O Road would "destroy the solitude, privacy, and undisturbed natural setting necessary to Indian religious practices, thereby violating their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion." Finally in 1983, the Federal District Court ruled in favor of the Indians claiming that the G-O Road would unconstitutionally violate their rights of freedom of religion and the practice of it. The case was appealed and it eventually ended up in the Supreme Court. The Indians based their argument on "Wisconsin v. Yoder." The Indians wanted to be left alone, like the Amish, to practice their religion. The Forest Service Countered by stating that this would inspire other religious groups to block government projects on land. The Indians lost by just one vote, but nonetheless, they continued to fight and challenge the Forest Service for the completion of the G-O Road. On October 28, 1990, the 101st Congress passed the legislation adding the G-O Road corridor to the wilderness area. The road was left uncompleted because of environmental reasons, not because of the Indians' fight for their First Amendment.
"Freedom of Religion: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association" provided a great example dealing with the freedom of religion. The Indians had been living on that land for hundreds of years, yet were denied their attempts to declare the area as a sacred area to prevent building on the lands. In the end it was a bittersweet victory for the Indians because the G-O Road was ordered to remain uncompleted because of the environment and not because it was a sacred territory for Indians. I believe that the Indians should have won the case in the Supreme Court because they were protected by the First Amendment. The case shouldn't have lasted as long as it did.