In Snyder v. Phelps, which First Amendment right was primarily addressed?

The case of Snyder v. Phelps primarily addressed the First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church members who were protesting at the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder. Their actions raised important questions about the extent and limits of free speech, particularly in the context of how it relates to public discourse and sensitive issues.

The Court found that the speech in question, while inflammatory and offensive, was protected under the First Amendment because it dealt with matters of public concern and was conducted in a public space. This ruling underscored the principle that the government cannot punish individuals for expressing their views, even if those views are controversial or upsetting to others.

In this scenario, while the other choices address rights that are also protected under the First Amendment, they were not the central focus of the case. The Freedom of Speech aspect was critical because it highlighted the need to balance individual emotions against the rights to express opinions, particularly in public forums.