By Debra Cassens Weiss

Justice Neil M. Gorsuch called for tolerance of diverse viewpoints while protesters outside criticized his appearance Thursday night at the Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C.

Gorsuch said the First Amendment guarantees that Americans “can say pretty much anything they want,” but with that right comes responsibility to tolerate diverse views. The New York Times and the Washington Post covered Gorsuch’s keynote address to the Fund for American Studies. How Appealing links to additional coverage.

“We have to remember that those with whom we disagree even vehemently still have the best interest of the country at heart,” he said. “We have to remember that democracy depends on our ability to reason and work with those who hold very different views from our own. We have to learn how to not only tolerate different points of view but to cherish the din of democracy.”

Critics question the appearance because the hotel is run by the Trump organization. Hotel ownership is being cited in a lawsuit that contends President Donald Trump is violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution because he eventually profits when foreign governments pay for using his hotel rooms.

Elizabeth Wydra, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center, said Gorsuch’s decision to speak at the hotel was disappointing because Trump’s failure to divest hotels and other assets could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Roger Ream, president of the Fund for American Studies, said the hotel was chosen to host the event before Trump became president.