These are strange, distressing times for America. As an American myself, I’ve never been more concerned or pessimistic about the future of the country I love. There are many reasons for that. But rather than get overly political and go on another rant, I want to offer some important advice to any American who might find this.
Regardless of what you see in the news or in rage-baiting headlines, you still have rights under the Constitution.
The current people in power have shown time and again that they are very willing to undermine those rights. You cannot let them. As an American, it is your responsibility to protect and defend those rights. Believe it or not, you do have the law on your side, even if those enforcing it would have you believe otherwise.
To understand, I’d like to refer to an old YouTube video from 2012 that I often share with people who don’t understand the law, the Constitution, or rights in general. It’s a lecture from a former criminal defense attorney at a law school. He makes the case better than anyone before or since that you, an American citizen, should never under any circumstances talk to the police.
It doesn’t matter if you’re innocent. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never broken a single law in your entire life. Thanks to the Constitution, specifically the 5th Amendment, you have the right to not talk to the police. And you should use it. If you want to know why, just watch this video and share it with everyone you know.
Hopefully, you now understand and will act accordingly, should you ever encounter the police or any law enforcement official. There are plenty of other videos on YouTube that document police encounters. But this one is still the most informative from a purely legal perspective.
Also, I would supplement this video with a few other details that are worth mentioning. If the police ever knock on your door, don’t open it unless you have a screen door separating you and the officers. Unless they have a warrant, they cannot legally enter your home by force.
And if possible, record your encounter and let the officers know that you’re recording. It doesn’t matter if they have body cameras. Make sure you document every detail of the encounter. And make sure the video you’re recording is stored somewhere other than your phone. If you ever have any legal issues, that video will be instrumental.
Lastly, and this is something that I doubt the men in the video could’ve foreseen, but these rights apply to everyone in the United States, regardless of their citizenship status. It doesn’t matter what anyone in the reactionary media say. The language of the 14th amendment is very clear.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Note the bold text. It says person and not citizen. Anyone who claims otherwise is an idiot, a liar, or both.
I really wish I didn’t have to make a post like this for my fellow Americans, as well as those aspiring to be American. But these are the times we currently live in. They suck. They’re probably going to get a hell of a lot worse. But at least for now, the Constitution says you have rights. And now, more than ever, you should cherish and defend them.
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