Freedom of speech is a guarantee found in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It protects all kinds of expression -- what you say, what you write, draw or photograph and your right to express yourself in action by meeting freely with other people in clubs, organizations, rallies and demonstrations.  It protects everyone in the United States against acts of government.  The only constitution that applies in D.C. is the U.S. Constitution, but the Maryland Constitution has a similar guarantee in the Declaration of Rights.1