For this week’s hot take prompt, I want you guys to think about the freedom of speech in America. Many are pointing out that, despite the First Amendment being uniquely American, it is being attacked. This assassination aids their point. Whether you agreed with him or not, it cannot be denied that Charlie Kirk exercised that right to the fullest. He was killed for it. To what extent does free speech exist in America?
The First Amendment is an essential pillar of democracy, but it is necessarily limited in some contexts. For example, the First Amendment does not permit individuals to incite lawless action through speech, or to distribute child pornography, or to make a true threat against an individual or group. Without public discourse of government, citizens do not have the power to hold their representatives accountable or propose new ideas that would strengthen their country and improve government.
The recent shooting of conservative activist and Turning Point USA CEO, Charlie Kirk, was a heinous, unlawful and condemnable act of political violence that will leave a lasting trauma on the Kirk family. Political violence, of any type, is a morally reprehensible way of signaling one’s disapproval of an individual or group’s political ideologies. The First Amendment, however, is not under threat primarily from gun violence; it is under threat from a system that favors inequality. The rise of fascist sentiment is growing among a population increasingly concerned about the economic stability of the nation in which they live. A system that favors wealth consolidation in the hands of capitalists — evidenced by the 2010 United States Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC, which established corporate contributions to political campaigns as a form of free speech protected under the provisions of the First Amendment — will continually exacerbate inequality and foster sociopolitical conditions conducive to the rise of fascism and political violence.
-Henry
Charlie Kirk’s death shouldn’t be seen as an example of diminishing free speech, but as an indication of intolerance produced by speech such as his. He was able to build a platform and speak despite dissent from many who disagreed with him. If Charlie Kirk were an example of diminishing free speech in the country, he would not have been able to speak at Utah Valley at all.
Eroding free speech in the U.S. is an issue that originates from leadership, administration and government repression against citizens rather than between citizens themselves. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech.”
I believe what happened to Charlie Kirk is instead an example of how words can cause harm or incite violence, such as gun violence, to solve disputes, especially with increasing polarization.
– Katie
The last few days have no doubt been a hard blow to the United States as a whole. Afterwards, many on both sides of the aisle took to social media to display their strong emotions. While it is distasteful to speak ill of the dead or say he “deserved what he got” (to quote the many Liberals who expressed this thought on TikTok), that in itself encompasses the freedom of speech and is not physically harming anyone. If we threaten that genuine method of the first amendment, we will collapse as a nation. However, many people on the left also posted threats to right wing voters or described the idea that MAGA supporters “are next” (also quoting people on TikTok). These are threats, fighting words and/or incitement of violence — all of which are not protected by the first amendment.
If a child’s teacher is seen celebrating this murder and parents decide to take action, that is their prerogative as parents. A person inciting violence should not have the privilege of teaching and influencing the impressionable next generation for eight hours a day. Additionally, an employee inciting violence or threatening to harm the opposing political party should absolutely be terminated for endangering the workplace. An employee also carries the reputation of the company upon employment and should respect that image.
I strongly urge — not out of anger but of genuine concern — that anyone who was celebrating or felt joy at this terrible news seek counseling and/or limit your time online in an attempt to heal their soul.