The Eighth Value of Free Expression

The eighth value of Free Expression is Protect and Dissent which means every citizen in the United States has the right to criticize the government. This value protects the First Amendment and is a very important part of Free Expression. Without the right to criticize the government how will we see change? If we didn't have the right to dissent the government then how would they enforce that law? Jail time? The USSR and Hitler just killed the people who spoke out against them which is just crazy to think about. To express further on how important this value is I thought I would show some movements and protests in the United States that wouldn't have been possible without it.

March For Our Lives

March For Our Lives is an organization that helps fight against gun violence in the United States. They often protest to politicians about inaction and for strict regulation over the gun industry. These people want universal background checks for anyone who buys or owns a gun, high-capacity magazine bans, limiting firing power on the streets, extreme risk protection orders, and to disarm all domestic abusers. The link to their website is below if interested in learning more: https://marchforourlives.com/


Equal pay for women

On Equal Pay Day women advocates for equality of pay marched to New York City Hall to protest against the wage gap. Did you know that today, black women only receive 63 cents to every dollar a man gets? They wore t-shirt that were red to symbolize being "in the red" economically. These women planned to focus on the wage gap between men and women today. According to NBC news, "City Comptroller Scott Stringer, who spoke at the City Hall rally Tuesday, compared the wage gap to a sluggish elevator: "Women get in the door on entry level salaries, but then they get on the elevator and the elevator slows down."" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/equal-pay-day-women-rally-against-wage-gap-workplace-discrimination-n742451

These movements are meant to capture the worlds and the governments attention in hopes for change. That is an important part of what this value means and it's our duty as American citizens to criticize the government and demand change.