“When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
So said Donald Trump in a tweet about the Minneapolis street protests of police violence.
How is this any different from shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theater?
The Supreme Court ruled long ago that our First Amendment right to freedom of speech is not unlimited. And a president's oath of office requires him to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Why should Trump be treated any differently from the rest of us citizens when it comes to observing basic constitutional principles, especially when his ill-considered words could easily foment even more violence?
Tom Huckin, Salt Lake City
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