I’ve never hidden my politics or beliefs. And I also don’t remember ever putting a bumper sticker for a politician on my car.

That said, we’re in different times that transcend “parties.” Silence is not an option. This is not a political conversation, it’s one of human rights.

I posted a version of this on RealCrozetVA, the Crozet community blog and the more I’ve sat with it, the more I am compelled to post here as well. I’ll write something in my upcoming Monthly Note about how I concluded that I had to post this.

In response to a FB comment, I posted: (edited for RealCentralVA)

The focus of RealCentralVA remains, and will remain, information about the Charlottesville and Albemarle real estate markets, and tangential things that affect how and where we live. And yet, we’re at a time in history where silence in the face of what we are seeing across the country is no longer acceptable.

This is not “political;” it speaks to fundamental rights of all who inhabit this country, including Charlottesville, Albemarle, and Central Virginia. 

We are currently seeing documented events that bypass fundamental constitutional protections—specifically our 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 10th Amendments. See citations below. When federal operations involve the use of lethal force against citizens without due process, including murdering Americans in the streets with no accountability, warrantless entry into private homes, dragging people – citizens and not – out of cars, and the arrest of journalists, we are no longer discussing policy.

We are discussing the erosion of the legal framework that ensures our community’s stability. Acknowledging these events is a matter of constitutional concern and public safety, which I believe is relevant to us all, regardless of political affiliation.

A Few Relevant News Stories
(as of my initial posting of this early this week; there are more examples every day)

• • The Trump Administration Is Building Concentration Camps for Americans
  • The arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are a danger to all Americans
  • Minnesota’s Compelling 10th Amendment Case Against Trump’s ICE Surge
  • Renee Good was shot three times, autopsy into Minneapolis ICE killing finds
  • UN rights chief decries US treatment of migrants, as deaths in ICE custody rise
  • A U.S. citizen says ICE forced open the door to his Minnesota home and removed him in his underwear after a warrantless search
  • The Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights probe into the killing of Alex Pretti

This FAQ is designed to be a non-partisan, educational resource. By focusing on the text of the Constitution rather than political rhetoric, you position yourself as a civic-minded curator of information rather than a partisan advocate.

Know Your Rights: A Constitutional FAQ for Our Community

In light of recent national events affecting local residents, many have asked how these situations relate to our Bill of Rights. Below is a plain-English guide to the amendments currently being tested in the courts and on our streets.

What is the 1st Amendment?

The Right: Protects freedom of speech, the press, and the right to peacefully assemble.

The Current Stake: When journalists (like Don Lemon or Georgia Fort) are arrested while reporting on public events, it challenges the “Freedom of the Press” clause. A free press is the primary way citizens stay informed about what their government is doing.

What is the 2nd Amendment?

The Right: Protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms for self-defense and security.

The Current Stake: Reports of federal agents confiscating legal firearms from citizens during “checks” or home entries without a criminal conviction raise serious concerns about the infringement of a law-abiding citizen’s right to bear arms.

What is the 4th Amendment?

The Right: Protects you against “unreasonable searches and seizures.” Generally, federal agents cannot enter your home or seize your person without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.

The Current Stake: Recent “warrantless entries” into private residences (such as the case of Scott Thao) are being legally challenged as direct violations of this privacy right.

What is the 5th Amendment?

The Right: Guarantees “Due Process.” No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without a fair legal procedure.

The Current Stake: When a citizen is killed by a government agent (such as Renée Nicole Good) without an immediate, transparent investigation or legal accountability, it bypasses the constitutional requirement for Due Process.

What is the 10th Amendment?

The Right: Reserves all powers not specifically granted to the federal government to the States and the People.

The Current Stake: This protects our local police and city officials from being forced to follow federal orders that contradict state law. When federal “surges” happen without state consent, it is often viewed as a violation of state sovereignty.

What should I do if I am stopped?

If you are approached by federal agents, legal experts generally recommend:

1. 1. Ask “Am I free to go?” If they say yes, walk away calmly.
   2. State “I do not consent to a search.” This protects your 4th Amendment rights for later court proceedings.
   3. Ask to see a warrant. A “Notice to Appear” or an administrative paper is not a judicial warrant signed by a judge.
   4. Remain Silent. You have a 5th Amendment right to not answer questions about where you were born or how you entered the country.