“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Attributed to Voltaire
For nearly fifty years Liberals have been justifiably accused of censoring speech with which they disagree. It has taken the form of establishing so-called free speech zones on high school and college campuses, in workplaces and community forums, punishing those whose speech might reflect conservative or controversial views or make others uncomfortable.
Those justifying such unconstitutional actions ignore the fundamental concept … free speech is a two-edged sword. While enabling people to express their opinions without fear of governmental or public reprisals; it obligates them to tolerate and even defend the rights of others whose speech may offend them and which might be an abhorrence to their core beliefs.
All Constitutional freedoms, including free speech have certain limitations. One cannot yell, “Fire!” in a crowded theater. Other generally recognized exceptions include, charged or fighting words likely to inflict injury or to incite violence, breach of the peace or criminal conduct; true threats; defamation; obscenity; child pornography; fraud; and in certain circumstances harassment.
Under Trump, America is currently witnessing a far more destructive attack on free speech from the Right, amplified at the highest levels of our federal government whose representatives have taken an oath to “support and defend the Constitution …” and in the case of the president, to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Through his Executive Branch surrogates, some 200 (so-called “WOKE” “DEI” and transgender) words have been flagged to be limited or avoided in government publications and websites. Statistical data clashing with Trump’s often false or exaggerated narratives is being withheld as is any factual evidence DOGE’s draconian actions have actually saved “billions” in “waste and fraud.”
The White House has penalized the Associated Press which serves a global market for not observing the president’s politically-motivated renaming of the Gulf of Mexico; publicly attacking journalists who fact-check his claims; replaced credible media services with ultra-conservative outlets and podcasters; and in some jurisdictions Republican allies have banned doctors from referring to “abortion”, even when the medical professionals believe it represents the best, and possibly life-saving, course of action for their patient. Trump has initiated a strategy of suing media outlets whose reporting he dislikes while his Congressional disciples openly attack fellow Republicans who defy the resident’s edicts.
The president’s willingness to deport foreign students, including Green Card holders, who take part demonstrations in support of causes he opposes, exemplified by the case of Mahmoud Khalil who was arrested in New York city, shipped to an ICE detention center in Louisiana, and denied reasonable access to his attorneys. Although not accused of any crime, Trump is equating his vocal activism in support of the Palestinians in Gaza as being antisemitic and supporting terrorists, despite no credible evidence he has had any contact with or given any support to Hamas.
Putting aside the fact Palestinians, as part of the broader Arab population, are considered Semitic people, sharing a linguistic and cultural heritage with other Semitic-speaking groups in the Middle East, a recent poll suggests more than one-third of Americans sympathize with Palestinians which does not mean they support Hamas.
If antisemitism is a criterion for stripping people of their rights, one must question Trump’s hosting a known antisemitic White Supremisist and Christian Nationalist for dinner at Mar-A-Largo and why he believes there could be a place in American politics for the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, and other extremist groups whose anti-Jewish leaders, although convicted of seditious conspiracy against the U.S., were pardoned by him.
The First Amendment, not only guarantees free speech but also the “right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances;” whether in support of or to protest Gazan Palestinians, Black Lives Matter, LBGTQ rights, or other political and social causes.
A Green Card holder, Mahmoud Khalil is protected by the U.S. Constitution, although unlike citizens, susceptible to being removed if they violate their status in the U.S.; such as being convicted of a crime or taking actions “likely to engage in, terrorist activities.” According to Khalil’s lawyers, there is no evidence he is guilty or any such offenses nor, as Secretary of State Rubio has accused him, does his continued “presence or activities in the United States [suggest] reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
It is bitter irony after anointing himself as “the chief crusader for ‘free speech,” our cherished freedom of speech is under assault by Trump. Khalil’s case is as ominous warning of how those taking public exception with president’s narrow, frequently ill-informed and unconstitutional views become targets of his wrath.
Preserving our liberties and Republic is not a spectator sport and, as John Adams wisely noted, “Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.”
