Why is the right of people peaceably to assemble important?

Answer 1

Freedom of assembly is important because it gives us the right to gather and discuss or protest if need be. If freedom of assembly weren't legal, we could not have parades and marches to celebrate social movements or protests.

Answer 2

As with many things in the US Constitution this right is based on something that was current and of vital importance to the colonists at the time.

In this case it is a response to the "Riot Acts". This allowed a Justice of the Peace or other official of the law to disperse any crowds (sometimes 3 people could be called a crowd) on pain of having the militia or troops used against them, by "reading the Riot Act" and declaring the assembly unlawful.

This had the effect of banning political meetings or rallies against the Crown, since they were simply read the Act.

By enshrining the right to free assembly the US Constitution is permitting discussion and political meetings to take place, even if the government or local authority disagrees with them. Interestingly the basic concept of the Riot Act survives in the US legal code to deal with non-peaceable assemblies.

Answer 3

Without the right to assemble we really don't have any other rights. This right covers our ability to meet in public (for instance, it even covers political discussions in a bar with friends), protest, belong to associations with like minded people, practice religion publicly, and, when applied with the right to petition, allows us to vote. The very latter being arguably the most important element in any democracy.

Answer 4

It is important to be able to assemble because people with the same thoughts or people that think alike can come together to discuss something that they think is right or wrong.

Answer 5

The right of assembly is important because it allows similar interest groups to converge and share ideas. Political activity, for the good of the people also thrives on the right of assembly.