Who believes in Free Speech?

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

The Friends of Voltaire by Evelyn Beatrice Hall

 
I remember when this quote was all the rage. Anyone who believed in the First Amendment would roll this one out every time the Nazi Party or the Ku Klux Klan wanted to march down main street. It used to be that the biggest self-proclaimed First Amendment defenders were Democrats. But not anymore. Here is an article that lists the Democrat-aligned groups that prevented Donald Trump from speaking in Chicago. I too disagree with a lot of what Donald Trump says but it would never occur to me to prevent him from speaking. I could say the same for Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. It is troubling - and should be to his supporters - that Bernie's name was chanted among those who stormed Trump's planned rally. Instead, there appears to be pride in denying free speech to an opponent.

In the wake of the Citizens United decision, Bernie Sanders proposed an amendment to limit the First Amendment. He thinks free speech is good for some but not all. Hillary Clinton agreed with him.

It's not much of a right if it is totally limited and constrained.

Hillary Clinton

 

Hillary said this in relation to abortion and how the Texas legislature is regulating abortion clinics out of existence. Of course, one wonders how universal she thinks that statement is? Is free speech still a right if it is totally limited and constrained? How about the Right to Bear Arms?

 

This pattern of liberal activists preventing opponents from speaking has been going on for a long time at college campuses. The problem appears to be spreading.