And truth is rarely polite. Decorum is not the First Amendment. The First Amendment doesn't exist to protect polite speech. It exists to protect uncomfortable speech. Speech that calls out your corruption. You don't lose your First Amendment rights for being disrespectful. But watch what happens when the people in charge control the clock. Thin blue lies, baby. At a Corpus Christi City Council meeting, a man named Jason Followell stepped up to speak. He was asked to identify himself and his city, a standard requirement for public comment. He refused. Instead, he said he represents we the people and that his city was America. Council members and staff repeatedly interrupted him, insisting he follow the rule. During this exchange, his speaking time continued to run. After a prolonged back and forth, he was eventually allowed to speak briefly, but his time was not restarted. Followell used what time he had left to criticize the council, arguing that decorum rules were being used to silence dissent. As his time expired, the situation escalated. Followell responded with profanity directed at the mayor, and officers were called in to remove him. >> [clears throat] >> Well, let's see how far we get today. It's 10 seconds usually, right? Good. >> 3 minutes. All right, thank you. >> [clears throat] >> So, I had a There was a citizen who came up here >> The The The speaker has failed to identify himself in accordance with the rules of decorum. That is hindering the public meeting. Will you please take care of him? Ms. Worther, would you please ask for like you do with everyone else? Sure. I got it. I will I will introduce myself. I identify as we the people. Okay, go ahead and >> Go ahead. >> Thank you. Mayor, the speaker is required by the rules of decorum to state his name and city. I identify as we the people, my city is America. Can you Can you restart my time now since this guy keeps interrupting an official meeting? And y'all please start my clock. I haven't even got to talk yet. Ms. Rebecca >> about. Let me speak. I went with your illegal rules. I thought Go ahead. I can't hear you. The microphone is off, Mayor. >> [clears throat] >> You can't silence somebody's microphone. You did on a city personal. So, please let me start over and have my speech. And you know exactly what I'm talking about. [clears throat] So, may I talk? Mayor, the rules of decorum require that the speaker identify him his name and his city. Okay, America, Texas City, none of your business. Fine. Aransas Pass. There you go. >> Okay. And start over my time. >> Go ahead. May- Mayor, the the rules of decorum require that the speaker identify his name. Okay. I identified my name, we the people. Would you like to see my ID? Ooh, see that? >> That's right. Uh-huh. >> Can I speak now? Speak, Mr. Followell. At first glance, this looks like someone refusing to follow the rules. But when you look closer, there's more going on here. Public meetings like this are considered limited public forums. That means the government can set rules on time limits, speaker procedures, and basic structure. But those rules come with limits. They have to be reasonable, and they have to be applied fairly. Followell argued that decorum isn't law and that the First Amendment protects uncomfortable speech. And on that point, he's not wrong. The Constitution doesn't require politeness. It protects criticism. It protects frustration. It even protects speech people don't want to hear. >> I would like my time back. Y'all took it all away from me cuz y'all were talking. Go ahead. No, I don't want I want my time back. >> Okay, just let's start. Start my time and I will. >> Mr. Followell, please start. >> taking my time. Please do what's right and let me talk. Can I have my time? Can I have my time since she's looking at you the whole time? Do I get 3 minutes or are you going to break my 3 minutes? I will take your 50 seconds and I guess I get 2 minutes after that. Fine. Okay, you had a citizen come out here and said you said fraud, these guys aren't going to do anything, of course. But before my speech is over, these guys are going to surround me and illegally throw me out of this building. Okay. >> [clears throat] >> I come up here each time to talk about decorum. That's the line we use when they when you don't want an answer. Example, when y'all laugh and she's okay with it, it's okay. When the citizens clap against her, that's illegal. >> [clears throat] >> Decorum is not a right. It's not even a law. The Constitution, First Amendment, is the law of the land, and you know that. One protects feelings, the other protects truth. And truth is rarely polite. Decorum is not the First Amendment. The First Amendment doesn't exist to protect polite speech. It exists to protect uncomfortable speech. Speech that calls out your corruption. Do I get my other 2 minutes? >> Now, here's where things shift. Followell didn't help himself. He refused a basic rule. He escalated the tone. And he made it easier for officials to justify removing him. But that's not the only factor. Because while this was happening, his time was still running. And when officials are interrupting you while your clock is ticking down, that raises a different question. Because if the government controls the clock and controls when you're allowed to speak, they don't just manage the meeting, they control how much of your speech actually gets heard. And decorum sounds neutral, but in practice, it often means say it the way we want to hear it. And the moment you don't, now you're disruptive. Now you're out of order. Now you're removed. Thank you, Mr. Followell. You're only giving me 1 minute. Mr. Followell, thank you. >> Oh, you're a f- Thank you. Please leave. You're done. No, you're done. >> Can I get 3 minutes? >> I need you to leave. Decorum. Come get it, buddy. What did I tell y'all? They're going to surround me. Ridiculous. >> is none of these men in here will put up with me. You're out of order, sir. Please leave. I'm under threat of arrest. Thank you, sir. Molly Lena Garza. Ms. Garza. I want my men. If men would stand with ME, THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN. YOU'RE NOT EVEN A MAN. SO, the real question isn't just what he said, it's this. If his time wasn't being used up during interruptions, would this have ended the same way? This is where people get it twisted. Free speech doesn't mean you can take over a meeting. But it also doesn't mean your time gets chipped away while officials control the flow of your speech. Because once the government can interrupt you, run your clock, and then enforce the rules against you, they're not just maintaining order. They're shaping how dissent is allowed to exist. Was this a clear constitutional violation? Maybe not on its face. But when interruptions, time limits, and enforcement all work together like this, it starts to blur the line between structure and control. Thin blue lies, baby. Hey, if you're still here, that tells me two things. One, you actually care about accountability. And two, YouTube hasn't scared you off yet. So, here's the deal. If this video brought you value, do the YouTube things. Like it, share it, subscribe. That's how this channel keeps exposing nonsense without corporate filters. If you want to support the work directly, there's a know-your-rights guide and other resources linked below at kofi.com/thinblueliesmedia. And for the few of you who've asked, there's also official merch linked below. No hype, no drop, it's just there if the message resonates. However you support the work, watching, sharing, reading, wearing it, or just sticking around, I appreciate you being here. Thin blue lies, baby.