Here’s what we ask candidates and elected officials to support.
Free Speech Commitment
“I commit to use my office to protect free speech. I will defend Americans’ right to speak freely and protest peacefully.”
“Now more than ever, we need to uphold the First Amendment. It’s unique to us as Americans. It’s been fought for and defended all through our history for free expression without censorship from the government. It’s foundational to our personal rights and liberties.”
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05)
I support candidates who commit to the preservation of free speech.
About the Commitment
Freedom of speech is our first right in the Bill of Rights. Why? Because you can’t have our other rights without it. And because in life without the give and take of different viewpoints you can’t course correct, improve, approach truth, or call out and stop evil. The ability of all Americans to speak, protest, and express their opinions publicly is central to our political process and to a free society remaining free.
Today, freedom of speech is under attack. Universities, mainstream media, tech companies, and megacorporations engage in the bigotry of viewpoint discrimination, suppressing opinions they don’t approve of, and punishing anyone who questions prevailing dogmas.
They engage in this harmful bigotry without accountability.
These efforts to stifle debate and silence dissenters are part of cancel culture, a dangerous movement which imposes severe social and financial sanctions on those who express opinions they dislike.
But freedom of speech isn’t just the freedom to agree with the majority. Nor is it simply the freedom to discuss uncontroversial topics. Freedom of speech explicitly affirms the freedom to express views that are unpopular, controversial, and even offensive. That is why the Constitution prohibits the government from censoring even these types of expression.
What is happening right now isn’t a matter of suppressing hate speech. It’s a matter of suppressing viewpoints that some people hate.
The result is that people today are afraid to speak out. They are afraid that if they express their opinions they will be deplatformed, doxxed, canceled, harassed, or even fired from their jobs and financially strangled.
This is not how America is supposed to function. This is not the foundation of a healthy society in which people with different ideas and beliefs debate their positions and work together in search of truth and common ground. This is harmful and self-limiting. Without tolerance of a diversity of viewpoints we will never learn, and never be better, only worse.
As Americans, we must fight for the freedom to express our thoughts and opinions without fear. It’s time to reject the bigotry of cancel culture. Stand up to protect this core American value: free speech.
Wall of Shame
College Campuses/Conservative Speakers
Conservative speakers a are rare on college campuses and that trend continues as universities highlight a plethora of individuals from the far-left while avoiding anyone from the right. (Washington Times)
Major League Baseball / Georgia
MLB announced that it will relocated the 2021 All-Star Game and MLB Draft, originally scheduled to take place in Atlanta, to a to-be-determined location following the passage of the Georgia voting law. (MLB)
New York Times / Adam Rubenstein
NY Times assistant, Adam Rubenstein, who edited Sen. Cotton’s ‘Send in the Troops’ Column resigns six months after he faced backlash from the staff. (The Daily Beast)
University of Southern California / Greg Patton
USC placed Prof. Greg Patton on leave after explaining a word on Mardarin language that is pronounced similarly to an offensive word in English during his lecture. (Inside Higher Ed)
Houston Rockets / Daryl Morey
Authorities from the People’s Republic of China pressured Daryl Morey, the general manager of the Houston Rockets, to apologize for expressing support on Twitter for protests in Hong Kong. (NPR)
Blizzard Entertainment / American University Esports Players
Blizzard Entertainment temporarily banned an American University esports team for displaying a sign critical of the company and supporting protests in Hong Kong. (CNN)