Charlie Kirk’s assassination at a college event in Utah last week has been described as a watershed moment for our country. While there are many facets to this evil tragedy, there is perhaps none more critical to recognize than the chilling effect his murder will almost certainly have on free speech.
The Turning Point USA founder made a name for himself by engaging with young Americans across the political spectrum. He was shot and killed while doing just that – answering a question from a liberal social media influencer. The message this sends to the next generation of Americans couldn’t be any clearer: If you disagree on the wrong issues, you might end up paying for it with your life.
The reaction across the political spectrum in the days following has been pretty clear: People don’t want to live in an America where you can get shot for holding the wrong views. So how did we get here? To find a road back to an America that protects and values free speech, let’s first examine what led to this terrifying moment.
Since 1791, the U.S. Constitution has protected freedom of speech in the Bill of Rights. Through the years, however, this freedom has been tested. It survived the Sedition Act in World War I. It was strengthened by the Fourteenth Amendment, which provided equal protection under the law for all. And it’s been clarified by numerous court cases through the years.
Today, I believe freedom of speech in America is at greater risk of suddenly disappearing if something isn’t done. This freedom has faced new attacks in recent years, largely coming from the political left, as their most radical members weaponize political correctness and violence to advance their agenda. Let’s look at two examples.
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When Kirk was shot, he was answering a question about transgenderism – something that had barely entered the realm of mainstream politics over a decade ago.
But in recent years, the far left has attempted to use non-discrimination laws to undermine the notion of biological sex and police our language. They’ve demanded that all Americans adopt a new concept of sex, use whatever pronouns someone might prefer on a given day, and to ostracize whoever refuses to go along with this new paradigm regardless of their deeply held beliefs. To pressure the public, the left has attempted to paint anyone who doesn’t join in as a bigot.
The left’s assault on the First Amendment isn’t contained to gender ideology. During the summer of 2020, our country witnessed some of the most widespread disregard for the rule of law in a generation. Following George Floyd’s death, rioters stormed cities across the country. Rather than simply using the press and political process to pursue their agenda, protestors burned and pillaged private property.
This violence in the streets was followed by a united push by far-left politicians, corporate America, and a constellation of left-wing non-profits for public policy that would weaken law enforcement and reshape America’s economy. Along the way, Americans who objected to this agenda were at risk of being cast as racist.
These are just two examples that underscore how the far left operates: you as an American have to say and do the “right” things, or you will pay a price.
We can’t let this worldview win. How do we move forward?
If we are going to enjoy free speech in America, we must restore a basic respect for the rule of law and keep America safe. In recent weeks, President Trump has launched a new initiative to clean up crime in big cities, deploying additional law enforcement and military resources to stop violent crime and to clean up the nation’s capital.
Restoring the rule of law is foundational to protecting free speech, but it won’t stop the radicalization of people like Tyler Robinson. We as Americans must take a hard look at how technology, AI, and social media are polarizing our country and influencing us individually.
But most of all, Republicans need to work to convince our friends, neighbors, and communities that free speech is valuable. This is what Charlie Kirk was doing when he set out on his tour of college campuses – he was reaching out to the other side. We need to do the same and to engage directly with people who don’t share our views.
Almost 250 years after our founding, America’s Constitution remains the best form of government in the history of the world, but its future hinges on our willingness to protect it. Benjamin Franklin is believed to have famously said we have “a republic, if you can keep it.” If America is going to remain strong in the coming years, Republicans need to build on the legacy of Charlie Kirk and protect free speech for the next generation of Americans.
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