Dear William, Daniel, Catherine, Michael, and Sarah, (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Earlier today, Michael, Daniel, Malgosia, Babcia Krysia and I marched — we marched in the Westfield (N.J.) “sister” march of the Women’s March on Washington. Westfield’s March was one of six in New Jersey. According to the Women’s March on Washington, 673 marches took place worldwide and more than 2.5 million people RSVPed to participate. In Westfield, several thousand people participated in the “Sister March.”

Here are some photos from our March:

So, why were me marching? Well, I recently told you about Mr. Trump being elected president of the United Sates of America — he actually became president yesterday, when the Inauguration ceremony was held. So, today, many people wanted to express their disapproval of Mr. Trump’s actions and behavior. To express that disapproval, a protest march was organized. Our right to hold a protest march is protected under our Constitution.

A constitution is a document that explains the social contract that had been entered by a group of people, and is applicable to all people who enter the country that it applies to (in our case, the United States of America) — it is a basic law that describes the rights and powers of the citizens, and their government.

Our Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. After it was signed, it needed to be approved (“ratified”) by all the sates — here is a map of the states that existed then, and the dates when each of them ratified our Constitution:

Shortly after the United States agreed on its Constitution, the people of Poland decided that this was a good idea, and they agreed to have their constitution as well. The Polish Constitution was created on May 3, 1791 — it was the first constitution of its kind in Europe.

If you want to find out who the various people are who are depicted in this painting, go HERE.

But, let’s get back to the U.S. Constitution — that is what protects US.

The Preamble to our Constitution says:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Preamble is followed by seven Articles — Article I is the basis for the Legislative branch of our government; Article II is the basis for the Executive branch of our government; and Article III is the basis for the Judicial branch of our government. Be aware of the fact that our government is made up of THREE branches of government.

If you want to read the entire Constitution, go HERE.

Two years after the signing of the Constitution, people decided that some amendments were necessary — they started off by enacting ten amendments — now known as the Bill of Rights.

The very First Amendment states:

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.

Thus, the First Amendment states the the government cannot restrict our freedom of speech, nor our right to get together with others for peaceful purposes. THIS is what gives us the right to march and protest.

People have been protesting in the U.S. since before there even was a U.S. — an example is The Boston Tea Party.

Examples, in my lifetime, were the Vietnam War Protests; and the voting rights marches.

I did not take part in those protest marches, and I do feel guilty about that — especially about not taking part in the voting rights marches.

As a family, our first involvement with social justice was participating in the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear that took place on October 30, 2010.

A year later, Babcia Krysia and I visited the Occupy Wall Street protest in N.Y.C.

So, what I want you to get from all of this is that as Americans, we have the right to protest against the faults of our government — but, remember, the protest MUST be peaceful.

Free speech is an American right; but, be careful how you use it — you cannot stand up in a crowded movie theatre and yell “Fire!”

All rights must be balanced with responsibilities — if you are going to march in protest, obtain a permit to do so — from the photos of our “Sister” March you see that the Police were fully involved; they protected us; and they protected the civil peace so motorists would be inconvenienced to the least amount possible.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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