First Amendment Auditors visit Oskaloosa: Upholding Constitutional Rights through the Lens
Members of the “Flex Your Freedoms” YouTube Channel were in Oskaloosa on Wednesday conducting what is referred to as a 1st Amendment Audit.
Oskaloosa, IA – Oskaloosa News recently caught up with Beau, a First Amendment auditor and YouTube channel host of “Flex Your Freedoms,” to discuss his mission and experiences. Beau, a military veteran with two combat deployments in Afghanistan, now dedicates his time to ensuring that government officials and law enforcement officers uphold the constitutional rights of citizens.
Beau shared that his motivation stems from his military service and a deep commitment to the Constitution. “I take that oath to the Constitution seriously, and if people in government are trying to bypass our rights, that’s a problem,” Beau stated. His goal is to expose any governmental overreach and educate officials on citizens’ rights through his interactions, which he documents and shares online.
In his role as a First Amendment auditor, Beau travels to various towns, engaging with law enforcement and public officials to assess their adherence to constitutional rights. While most of his interactions, around 90-95%, have been negative, Beau highlighted a positive experience in Oskaloosa. “I have nothing negative to say, only positive, and that’s how it should happen everywhere,” he remarked, praising the professionalism of local law enforcement.
Beau acknowledges that his work is not financially lucrative. He earns modestly from video views and relies on disability benefits from the VA and donations from live streams to sustain his efforts. Despite the challenges, he remains committed to his mission, using a comedic approach to create memorable educational interactions.
Beau’s efforts are part of a broader movement aimed at holding officials accountable and ensuring that citizens’ rights are protected. As he continues his journey, Beau hopes to inspire others to stand up for their rights and exercise the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
You can find “Flex Your Freedom” by clicking this LINK.
Understanding the First and Fourth Amendments and the Role of First Amendment Auditors
First Amendment Rights
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees several fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. These rights are essential for a democratic society, allowing individuals to express their opinions, gather for peaceful protests, and hold the government accountable.
Freedom of Speech: This right allows individuals to express their opinions without government interference or regulation.
Freedom of the Press: This protects the right to publish and disseminate information and opinions without government censorship.
Freedom of Religion: This includes the right to practice any religion or no religion at all.
Freedom of Assembly: This allows people to gather for peaceful protests and meetings.
Freedom to Petition: This provides the right to appeal to the government for redress of grievances.
Fourth Amendment Rights
The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. It ensures that law enforcement agencies cannot conduct searches or seize property without a warrant issued based on probable cause.
Protection Against Unreasonable Searches: Law enforcement must have a valid reason and, in most cases, a warrant to search personal property.
Protection Against Unreasonable Seizures: This prevents the government from taking personal property without legal justification.
First Amendment Auditors
First Amendment auditors are individuals who exercise and test the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment, particularly the right to record public officials in the performance of their duties. They often visit public spaces and government buildings, such as police stations and courthouses, to film their interactions with officials and ensure that their rights are respected.
The goal of First Amendment auditing is to promote transparency and accountability within government institutions. Auditors believe that by documenting their interactions and sharing them publicly, they can educate both officials and the public about constitutional rights and highlight instances where these rights may be infringed.
While some view First Amendment auditors as provocateurs, their activities underscore the importance of protecting and exercising constitutional freedoms in a democratic society.
