I feel our First Amendment freedoms are under attack, and they are slowly fading. I made this quilt to look at the words carefully and to remind me and viewers what the amendment plainly says. It gives rights to the people against government censorship and prohibits the government from preventing us from protesting peaceably.

The quilt was part of Central Virginia Modern Quilt Guild’s exhibit Censorship: Stitched Narratives of Modern Quilters at the Richmond Main Library through Election Day.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.