The right to free speech and the right to free assembly are protected constitutional rights. However, that does not mean that people cannot be arrested while attempting to exercise them. The current Occupy protests in New York, New Hampshire and cities all over the US and the world have brought this into focus for many. In January, Occupy New Hampshire is planning an Occupy the New Hampshire Primary event. Many other direct action protests, some associated with the Occupy movement and others not, take place regularly.
Bradley Jardis and Tommy Mozingo showed up at the Plymouth State University campus as promised, but were unarmed. In the days leading up to the event, the story got more complex.