Free Speech and Violent Expressions

Many Americans have a perverse notion of the meaning of Free Speech.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, guarantees freedoms in America.   It is short and sweet, but leaves a lot to future interpretation, legislation, and court decisions to create the boundaries on this liberty.

Here is the text of the First Amendment:

Amendment I  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. 

This amendment protects the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government.  It was adopted on December 15, 1791.

What goes on now with the fundamental liberty of Free Speech ?   The exercise of Free Speech has reached a great divide of confusion. 

Free Speech is highly exercised by extremists who are forceful and committed to their cause.  To anyone who disagrees out loud, the extremist pushback is pronounced and often broadcast by public media who either support the cause or just want to promote divisive ideas that attract viewers.  (Does it, really?)

This pushback has intimidated many people from speaking out.  Many citizens fear to state their thoughts in case it might offend someone with certain hypersensitivities.  (The Fear Factor). It is time to abandon that fear.

The media reporters on the scenes of public protests work to elicit opinions from the participants about their rights to protest.  The common response is “This is Free Speech” or “This is our right in America.”    Well, they are wrong.

The occupation of streets, property, and buildings is not a protected freedom.  It is a violation of law. Threats of violence to individuals is a violation of law and a pox on society. Libel and slander are a violation of law.  The incitement of violence by extreme rhetoric and funding is a violation of law.

It is a breach of the safety, security, and freedom of other citizens.

For those who remember the Viet Nam protest of the Sixties and early Seventies, the campus protests were vast and violent.  Many were led by a group of organizers such as the SDS and the Weathermen.  High profile leaders were Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Tom Hayden.  These individuals were brought to justice and convicted in Federal Court.  (Note that the convictions were overturned on appeal, not because of the merits of the evidence or the law, but because of bias by the presiding judge which was palpable.) 

The Viet Nam protest era largely ended in tragedy with the deaths of four students by the National Guard at Kent State University in 1970.  (Whether the first shot was a bad mistake or justified by imminent threat is still an open debate.  It had been a violent protest.)

This is a lesson in what happens when protest without boundaries is left to spread.  It takes strong political and legal leadership to bring such actions back within the law.  Of course, prosecutors do not like to handle mass arrests of protestors.  But there are better ways to quell the situations. 

While the Democrats vow to “Save Democracy”, they have engaged in a campaign of Hate Language against Republicans and Donald Trump.

Whether or not you like Trump makes no difference.  The reality is that Democrats endeavor to create an atmosphere to “Hate Trump.”   And many Democrat followers have bought in. 

Democrats have portrayed Trump as a destroyer of democracy, a racist, a demagogue, a misogynist, a fascist, a xenophobe, and a Nazi !  

How much lower can they go ?   This Hate Speech begets Violence which has become ever more evident with recent politically motivated crimes.

Impressionable people who listen have taken violent action.

Will this be the watershed moment when politicians control their rhetoric to maintain civil discourse and debate in furtherance of the real needs of U.S. citizens ?

First, Politicians and the Media need to temper their statements to discourage violence.

Prosecution of organizers and professional agitators would make a big difference. Convictions for Incitement to Riot or Conspiracy to commit crimes would deter people with bad intent.

Petition your government leaders to support the protection of our rights and stop the bad actions that use the First Amendment as a cover.

And vote for candidates who are committed to protecting our rights and to real law enforcement according to the Constitutional mandate of the office.

The citizens of America are protected by First Amendment Rights.  However, this Freedom must itself be protected from abuse, or we lose it.  It will lead to movements for censorship.   

David Hollaender                                                        September 25, 2025

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