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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended abortion rights protesters who gathered outside of a restaurant where Justice Brett Kavanaugh was dining during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” saying they were exercising their right to free speech.<\/p>\n
Driving the news: <\/strong>Kavanaugh was eating at a restaurant called Morton’s last week when protesters gathered outside the venue and called the manager to have Kavanaugh, who joined the Supreme Court’s majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade<\/a>, kicked out.<\/p>\n What they’re saying: <\/strong>“When public officials go into public life we should expect two things. One, you should always be free from violence, harassment and intimidation. And two, you\u2019re never going to be free from criticism or peaceful protests, people exercising their First Amendment rights,” Buttigieg said.<\/p>\n Asked if he would be alright <\/strong>with protesters appearing where he and his husband were dining, Buttigieg replied, “Protesting peacefully outside in a public space? Sure.”<\/p>\n The big picture: <\/strong>Democratic lawmakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) have also responded to the incident<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n
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