Do I have the freedom to assemble

Source: "No right to freedom of assembly says 500 arrest" and "Freedom of Assembly/Speech- yea, right."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PfVjmnTmZA
http://vodpod.com/watch/3923366-no-right-for-freedom-of-assembly-says-500-arrests

Constitutional Connection: First Amendment "-- the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." 
Source Cited: http://topics.law.cornell.edu/constitution/billofrights#amendmenti

Analysis of the connection:
     Do we truly have the right to assemble peacefully or is that limited to how long the police decide to tolerate it? The first amendment grants citizens the right 'peaceably to assemble', but in these two video the people are punished for doing so. The freedom of assembly and speech go hand in hand, they are both a simply part of democracy.

     In the 'No right to freedom of assembly says 500 arrest' video over 500 people were arrested in Toronto "for "unlawful assembly'. A riot broke out when police decided that it was time for the protest to end, but the protesters refused. There were several charges ranging from mischief to conspiracy charges, but lawyers of those arrested believe that their clients did nothing wrong. The reporter Paul Jay says "so where is there a right to free assembly if as soon as a police officer tells you that you cant assemble its now unlawful assemble". Paul Jay makes a very good point because if we have the right to peacefully assemble, just as those protesters did, then how is it unlawful. Is it because the police say so, or because there are underlined restrictions to that freedom.

     I personally agree with the reporter on this topic because we are given the right to assemble, but once the police tell the group to disband they can say what they want to make it seem as if the people are unlawfully assembling. Even though the people gathered in the designated area for assembly, they are still in custody waiting to plea their case. There are many things that lye beneath these right granted to us by the constitution and you may never know what they are until you are charged and fighting your case.