What Is the Proper Way to Petition the Government for Redress of Grievances?

            The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns three freedoms protected by the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting … or abridging the freedom of speech, … the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” I thought that a protest was the act of exercising these freedoms, but I had to change my thinking after doing some research.


            The freedom to speak as we choose seems self-explanatory. However, I learned much from researching the last two phrases of the amendment. The wording for the first phrase is “the right of the people peaceably to assemble,” and the word that I would like to emphasize is peaceably. An internet definition for peaceably is as follows: “inclined to avoid argument or violent conflict; free from argument or conflict; peaceful.” Synonyms include nonbelligerent, nonviolent, noncombative, well behaved, law-abiding, disciplined, orderly, and civilized.


            The wording for the second phrase is “to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” An internet definition for petition contains two parts. As a noun, petition means “a formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause.” A synonym is appeal. As a verb, petition means “make or present a formal request to (an authority) with respect to a particular cause.” Synonyms include request, ask, call on, entreat, beg, implore, and beseech.


            An internet definition for redress contains two parts. As a noun, redress means “remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance.” Synonyms include compensation, reparation, restitution, recompense, and repayment. As a verb, redress means to “remedy or set right (an undesirable or unfair situation). Synonyms include rectify, correct, put/set/make right, put to rights, and compensate for. 


            An internet definition for grievances  is “a real or imagined wrong or other cause for complaint or protest, especially unfair treatment; an official statement of a complaint over something believed to be wrong or unfair; a feeling of resentment over something believed to be wrong or unfair.” Synonyms include injustice, unjust act, wrong, injury, offense, disservice, unfairness, outrage, atrocity, damage, affront, insult, or indignity. Synonyms for the feeling of resentment include complaint, criticism, objection, protestation, charge, protest, grumble, moan, quibble, and grudge. 


            The protests started peaceably because the people were nonviolent, well behaved, orderly, and civilized. At this point, the protesters had the support of every American. An honest grievance or injustice had taken place in the death of George Floyd, and all Americans could see it. However, there has been no formal written petition to request, ask, call on, entreat, beg, implore, or beseech authorities for redress – compensation, reparation, restitution, recompense, and repayment. To be a true petition, it must address a particular cause – “police brutality” or “police brutality against black men” – not an expression of anger or rage for 401 years of oppression. This could be one reason why previous protests brought little change. Once the protests turned into violent acts of looting, burning, and killing, they were no longer protected by anything in the Constitution.


            Edwin Meese III, who once served at the 75^th attorney general for our nation and now holds the position of the first Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, discussed the difference between protests and riots. While being “active in law enforcement for more than 50 years,” he has “seen numerous protests” and “far too many riots.” He declared that there is a difference and explained the reason for his thinking.

Orderly protest is part of our American tradition. It is an exercise of our constitutional rights of free speech and peaceable assembly. It is one way we the people can make our voices heard, our views known to those in power. [I noticed that he did not include any mention of a petition.]

But rioting, looting, destroying property, and attacking fellow Americans have no place in orderly protest. They are, in fact, the very antithesis of orderly protest. And in the end, these patently illegal actions not only undermine the moral standing of legitimate protests. History shows that they also wind up hurting most of the very people that true protesters aim to help.

Peaceful protest can help change America for the better. Organized protests and peaceful demonstrations during the Martin Luther King Jr. era produced tremendous progress for the civil rights movement; the church bombings and other violent actions of segregationists only advanced King’s cause.

Those nonviolent protests changed laws and changed lives. In today’s America, there are more successful African Americans – and more opportunities for African Americans to succeed – than at any point in our nation’s history.

Yet, recent events make painfully clear that America’s race issues are not fully resolved. George Floyd’s tragic death should bring us closer together. And peaceful protest can help do that.

Unfortunately, just as in previous protests, not everyone who has taken to the streets has come to build up the black community and bind us together.

Some believe their demands for change will never be taken seriously unless they demonstrate their willingness to “burn it down.” But burning things down only polarizes communities, making it even more difficult for a just cause to advance. Violence is not only unacceptable, it’s useless as a tool for positive social change.

            Meese continued by stating that “Antifa anarchists and other radical extremists” take advantage because they “see the protests as an opportunity to sow chaos and division, and who seek to incite the killing of police officers.” They see no need to honor “the memory of George Floyd” or to “work toward a more common understanding on race issues.”


            Then there are the “political opportunists” who see the protests “as a fantastic opportunity to score points and mobilize their bases. Their demands to defund or dissolve police forces are self-defeating and absurd. Shame on them. This is not a political issue; it is a moral one.”


            We cannot bring positive change to our nation through chaos and destruction of dreams and hard work. There is only one way to bring about positive change in our society and that is by identifying “wrong policies and wrong actions where they exist. We must also hold accountable and punish wrongdoers. But we should not resort to lawlessness or stigmatize courageous, lawfully acting police officers.”


            Meese came to the same conclusion that I and numerous other people have reached. These changes will not come through government because government can make and enforce laws, but it cannot change hearts. This is the task of every single American no matter our race, nationality, color, religion, or culture. If hearts are to be changed, we each must do our part. Meese gave the following suggestions for changing hearts.

We can also help change the hearts of others, by reaching out in a spirit of grace, openness, and understanding. We must lift each other up and find ways to help heal those who have been harmed.

Only when we come together and listen to one another, rather than shouting at one another, can we begin to heal and to be healed.

            Change will come when all of us work together to change our hearts and to help to change the hearts of other people. This change will happen sooner if Americans understand how to exercise their First Amendment rights in a way that will bring about change. When we see a wrong, we should take the time to compose a proper petition, get the signatures, and present it to the proper authorities. This presentation can come in the form of assembling in a group and marching together to the office of the proper authority.

When the protesting is done legally and wisely, proper conversations can take place and changes can be made. Protests turned into riots accomplish nothing. Americans were ready for a serious conversation about racial issues before the looting and burning started, but we are growing tired of the demands being made by the people who are breaking our laws and using black people to advance their agenda. The video and the protests were enough to convince us of the need for a change and to move us to action.