The tragedy in Charlettesville was compounded by the media when it chose to interpret President Trump's statement "that there was wrong on both sides" as supportive of Nazi/racism. The ACLU, appropriately, fought for the right of these evil entities to march. What was wrong was that the march, for some, was a pretext for violence couched as defense, anticipating the counter-protesters would be violent, as some were prepared to be.

Trump was also right that there were good people on both sides who had a right to express their views, which were not racist, but see history their own way and were not armed. You report that the ACLU is rethinking their First Amendment stand. We were taught you can say most anything but you can't yell "fire" in a cinema. Being violent is akin to that prohibition.

Dr. King showed us what can be achieved without violence. This is the model this nation needs to follow. Black Lives Matter rallies have had property destruction or public disruption yet their rallies are applauded; should they now be denied a permit?

ACLU and Trump are right. All sides own the right to express their views but not with violence or destruction.

Matthew Borrelli

Niantic