Growing backlash from the Trump administration toward people expressing their opinions online has renewed public concern over the limits of free speech in America.
Freedom of speech is a protected Right under the First Amendment. This encompasses all types of verbal and written speech, including digital media.
In light of Charlie Kirk’s death, there have been instances in which federal workplaces have threatened and punished their employees over what they post online.
An employee at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was placed on administrative leave after creating a derogatory Instagram post that said, “Half staff for the literal racist homophobe misogynist,” according to Fox News.
FEMA explained that this behavior contradicted their values of professionalism, respect and integrity.
Sophomore Aeden Pinsker said, “I think this is wrong because it’s a federal company, and they have to uphold the right of freedom of speech.”
Similarly, the Federal Commission subtly threatened Jimmy Kimmel and ABC over comments made about Charlie Kirk through his platform, leading to the suspension of his show.
“I was not happy when they pulled me off the air onwards. I did not agree with that decision and I told them that and we had many conversations. I shared my point of view. They shared theirs … They welcomed me back on the air and I thank them for that,” Jimmy Kimmel said on an E! News broadcast.
Trump has even gone as far as to suggest television licenses be revoked from stations that portray him negatively.
“They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that … They’re an arm of the Democrat Party” Trump said, according to USA Today.
While the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has jurisdiction over television programming, they can only censor or condemn programming deemed “obscene, indecent or profane.”
These standards encompass swear words and inappropriate sexual portrayals. The comments made on Jimmy Kimmel Live! do not fall under these categories, therefore the FCC has no ability to remove their licenses.
“It shows where we are as a country that someone could be fired for saying something controversial,” said sophomore Logan Gladstone.
Attorney General Pam Bondi attracted criticism over comments she made on Katie Miller’s podcast, saying, “There’s free speech, and then there’s hate speech – and there’s no place, especially now, especially after what happened to Charlie, in our society.”
To reiterate, hate speech that doesn’t contain a threat, incite violence or isn’t classified as harassment is protected under the first amendment.
Junior Violet Berman said, “People are getting punished for saying what they believe and that is not what free speech is supposed to mean. Even if someone says something others don’t agree with, they still deserve the right to express their beliefs without being afraid of the consequences.”
The people have shown their frustration and worry through various demonstrations: on September 18, over 300 writers stood in front of Disney Headquarters in Burbank, California to fight Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, and the No Kings Movement has continued to exercise their 1st amendment rights through peaceful protests all over the country.
“They say they’re fighting back through demonstration and reconsidering their support for Disney. I know a lot of people who don’t want to put money in the pockets of a company that is so willing to, you know, turn their backs on their own employees out of fear and out of bullying by the government,” said a protester in front of Disney headquarters.
