No. I Will Sit Down and Shut Up. I’m Using My Freedom of Speech While I Still Have It.

The reality is stark: our First Amendment rights are not as invincible as we might believe, and without vigilant protection, they can erode.

Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash

No. I Will Sit Down and Shut Up. I’m Using My Freedom of Speech While I Still Have It.

In the heart of every democracy lies a fundamental principle: the right to freedom of speech.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution promises that “Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or the press.” Yet, this seemingly ironclad guarantee is facing unprecedented threats, especially under the divisive and authoritarian tendencies displayed by Donald Trump and his followers.

The reality is stark: our First Amendment rights are not as invincible as we might believe, and without vigilant protection, they can erode. The urgency to act — through informed voting and active civic engagement — has never been greater.

The Fragility of Free Speech

The notion that our freedom of speech is untouchable is a comforting illusion.