“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting

the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or
the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a
redress of grievances.”

--First Amendment of the United States Constitution

The freedoms of speech, press, assembly and the right to petition the government and seek
redress of grievances means every citizen has the right to hold the government
accountable. Freedom of speech and press allows people to communicate their ideas
verbally and in writing, while freedom of assembly lets them publicly express a common
interest. The right to petition allows citizens to point out to the government where it did not
follow the law and to seek changes.

Even at N.C. A&T State University, there have been many capacities where I was able to
exercise my right to freedom of speech. As a student, I have utilized the First Amendment
by advocating for social movements. As a journalist, I have been able to answer the
questions members of the Aggieland community have been asking to help build themselves
up. I have learned the right to information that I have as a journalist any my ability to
spread information for the betterment of society.

Because journalists seek to help society as a whole, it is only right that every person has
access to the same information, education and resources. Members of the public also have a
right to speak their minds, as this nation was founded on the basis of representation and
freedoms which were not afforded to the founding fathers.

As a person of color, the first amendment guarantees that someone who looks like me is
still able to live freely, with values passed onto me from previous generations.

The first amendment holds one of the strongest freedoms given to citizens of the United
States, and it should be noted that these freedoms have allowed our society to grow in the
way it has.