photo credit: Malak Chahboub
Freedom of speech is an enshrined right in the First Amendment of the Constitution, and one that many are fearful of in the current age of politics and socialities.
There have been many threats to free speech in the recent political climate of the world
“There is an ongoing debate about what free speech looks like and how it should be protected in the United States. This is an age-old question, and we typically look to Supreme Court rulings to give us precedent on what is considered protected speech,” U.S. Government and Politics Teacher Rebbeca Whitney said.
Even students at the school seem to be fearful of where their First Amendment rights, like their right of free speech, are headed.
“In today’s age, the opinions and news we see are extremely polarizing. People are scared to voice their opinions in fear of backlash. This causes people to only subscribe to the popular opinion without doing any thinking for themselves. Free speech is incredibly critical to who we are as a country. If we lose that, we can no longer call ourselves truly free, and we’re no longer a ‘Great Nation’,” Senior Gracelyn Quaye said.
Recent events that sparked this have occurred on both sides of the political spectrum.
“The first thing that comes to mind of danger toward free speech is the brief shut down of Jimmy Kimmel Live! as that’s the topic I know the most about,” sophomore Catch Haney said.
According to the AP News website, “Tuesday, just under a week after ABC pulled the host off the air indefinitely in the wake of criticism over his comments related the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this month,” the AP News website stated. “He particularly decried threats made by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr last week, which Kimmel said were a ‘direct violation’ of the First Amendment — and also called the government’s efforts to ‘coerce’ broadcast affiliates to take his show off the air ‘un-American’ and dangerous.”
To many, this act of censorship is seen as an attack by governmental powers on their rights.
“The events that stand out to me as threats to free speech are very different. We’ve seen threats to free speech as Charlie Kirk was murdered for utilizing his First Amendment right. However, the same ‘free speech’ idea was used by Jimmy Kimmel, yet he was punished for his speech. We are also seeing our current administration targeting protesters, the press and the media if they don’t fit a certain agenda,” Quaye said.
On the opposing side of the political spectrum, was the recent assisanation of Conservative Media Personality Charlie Kirk, on Sept. 10 in Utah Valley University.
“Ultimately, the response to Kirk’s assassination highlights a crucial truth: freedom of speech is most vulnerable in moments of crisis, when emotions run high,” according to the Syracuse University Law Review website.
Events like these have sparked many strong feelings and reactions in America, one of them being fear.
“Based on these events, I am extremely worried for the direction of our country and its democracy. People don’t realize how these events could really affect us in the future,” Quaye said.
But that is not to say that our constitutional rights are dead or dying, because there are ways for people to stand up.
“In order to protect speech, it’s important to stay informed of what is going on. We have to get information from all sides to have a complex and deep understanding,” Quaye said. “Knowledge is very critical in order to protect free speech. Having productive conversations with friends helps with expressing free speech as well.”
For many young people, it is easy to feel like this doesn’t apply. And when it does, there’s nothing that can be done to make any change. But that is wrong.
“I know many students who share their concerns and many alarming facts on social media. There was also the recent school walk out set up by Emerson Pierce, so I see a lot of activism in our community,” Haney said.
It is important to remember that all voices matter, and all should have a right to be heard. But also that there is a time and place.
“Students should know that their right to free speech inside the school looks a little different than when they are not in the classroom. The Supreme Court has ruled that students have some rights to free speech and expression at school, but this speech cannot be disruptive to the learning environment,” Whitney said.
