Card 23: Freedom of Speech

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, UNDER ATTACK

The First Amendment to our Constitution says: “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.”

There are limits to this right:

• You cannot make threats against others.
• You cannot incite violence.
• You cannot commit fraud or encourage a crime.
• You cannot promote, publish, or possess child pornography.
• You cannot lie about someone. 

All these rights are connected by the core principle of free speech. Without it, we cannot openly express our beliefs, the media cannot deliver accurate information, we cannot assemble for protests, and we are unable to challenge what we see as wrong. 

Our government is actively trying to limit our right to free speech by: 

• Attacking colleges, universities, and corporations over diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
• Withholding funds from research institutions for publishing scientific studies with which the administration doesn’t agree.
• Denying access to media outlets over unfavorable reporting.
• Pressuring the media with lawsuits and/or cancelling licenses.
• Attempting to restrain journalists from reporting certain stories or publishing information that the administration hasn’t approved.
• Threatening students, especially foreign students, over protests and opinions they’ve expressed.
• Suppressing protests by threatening physical force and, in some places, deploying our military against Americans.
• Encouraging people to report others to their employers over social media posts. This has also been ordered in the military.

What can you do?

These actions are meant to intimidate all of us, to keep us from speaking out against authoritarianism.   

• Refuse to be intimidated. Keep using your voice.
• Demand that the government provide access to accurate information.
• Insist that the government stop suppressing the media.
• Push back against corporations that stifle free speech.

Call on your Senators and Representatives to protect this most valuable right for everyone in this country by upholding our Constitution and following the rule of law.