{"id":97103,"date":"2025-09-16T06:30:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T14:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/?p=97103"},"modified":"2025-09-16T07:04:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T15:04:43","slug":"death-of-charlie-kirk-leading-to-less-freedom-of-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/other-news\/death-of-charlie-kirk-leading-to-less-freedom-of-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"Death of Charlie Kirk leading to less freedom of speech?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nUnSplash photo<\/em><\/p>\n

COGwriter<\/a><\/p>\n

Charlie Kirk, who was politically assassinated last week, was a major advocate of freedom of speech and dialogue.<\/p>\n

But since his murder, there have been calls from many government officials encouraging punishment for people who say, write, and\/or post negative things about him or who have otherwise been pleased he is dead.<\/p>\n

Many on “the right” have encouraged and applauded this, while many on “the left” are raising concerns. Here are some reports:<\/p>\n

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Pam Bondi Defends ‘Hate Speech’ Crackdown After MAGA Backlash<\/h2>\n

September 16, 2025<\/p>\n

Attorney General Pam Bondi<\/a> defended her move to crack down on “hate speech” in the United States after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, saying threats of violence are federal crimes under the U.S. Constitution.<\/p>\n

Bondi has faced a backlash over free speech concerns<\/a> from MAGA voices online since vowing to take action, who see it as an attempt to stamp out protected speech under the First Amendment.<\/p>\n

There has been a hunt for retribution in the aftermath of Kirk’s killing, with conservatives highlighting individuals who have celebrated his death and alerting their employers. Others have surfaced examples of individuals making threats of political violence. …<\/p>\n

“For far too long, we’ve watched the radical left normalize threats, call for assassinations, and cheer on political violence. That era is over.”<\/p>\n

Bondi pointed to the U.S. Constitution\u2014specifically 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 875(c), 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 876, and 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 115\u2014saying it directly outlaws threats of violence. …<\/p>\n

Kirk had himself commented on the notion of “hate speech” in a May 2024 post on social media.<\/p>\n

“Hate speech does not exist legally in America. There’s ugly speech. There’s gross speech. There’s evil speech,” Kirk wrote. “And ALL of it is protected by the First Amendment. Keep America free.” https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/bondi-charlie-kirk-hate-speech-maga-2130526<\/a><\/p>\n

Charlie Kirk\u2019s Assassination Has Taken Us Down a Dark, Orwellian Path<\/h2>\n

September 15, 2025\u00a0https:\/\/www.esquire.com\/news-politics\/politics\/a66109768\/charlie-kirk-assassination-thought-crimes\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Republicans celebrate Kirk as free speech champion, demand critics be fired<\/h2>\n

September 16, 2025<\/p>\n

In the wake of the senseless murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, his political admirers are venerating him as a principled champion of free speech. Ironically, some of the same people are participating in an organized campaign demanding that anyone with a different view of Kirk’s political legacy be fired. This effort has been extremely successful. Dozens of people have been fired for expressing opinions about Kirk that others deem unacceptable. …<\/p>\n

On Monday, Vice President JD Vance, who previously praised Kirk for his “willingness to speak openly and debate ideas<\/a>,” encouraged Americans to “call the employer<\/a>” of anyone expressing negative opinions about Kirk’s legacy.<\/p>\n

Mobs of people, at the direction of elected officials like Vance and a constellation of right-wing influencers, are calling the employers of people who say the wrong thing about Kirk online. https:\/\/popular.info\/p\/republicans-celebrate-kirk-as-free<\/a><\/p>\n

September 16, 2025<\/p>\n

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The dangers and virtues of free speech have gained new relevance after the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. He has been praised in death by those on the right<\/a> and beyond<\/a> as an exemplar<\/a> of free speech \u2014 debating his ideological foes on college campuses and speaking his mind on his podcast. But he has also been held up as an enemy of free speech<\/a> by his critics<\/a> \u2014 having set up a \u201cwatchlist\u201d online of college professors<\/a> deemed insufficiently deferential to conservatives, explicitly encouraging visitors to intimidate and report them, and having frequently denigrated the democratic value and participation of minorities<\/a>, women<\/a>, and his political opponents<\/a>. Now, politicians<\/a>, businesses<\/a>, and media<\/a> organizations<\/a> are firing and threatening people who have criticized Kirk after his death \u2014 in other words, punishing them for their speech. https:\/\/www.vox.com\/politics\/461597\/free-speech-charlie-kirk-death-first-amendment-incitement-misinformation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Various ones on “the left” have long called for the censorship of what they call “hate speech.” They are now in an uproar when some of their statements are considered to be “hate speech” by the current Trump Administration and various others.<\/p>\n

And now more on “the right” are calling for what seems to be restrictions on freedom of speech.<\/p>\n

The Bible warns that “an hypocritical nation” will be punished (Isaiah 10:6, KJV)–and yes that point to the USA (see also our free eBook: Lost Tribes and Prophecies:\u00a0What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Both the left and the right are being a bit hypocritical here, but the reality is that encouraging people to turn against freedom of speech, and to turn others into the government and\/or employer for potential punishment.<\/p>\n

Though a bit less now on Twitter, Facebook, Google, Apple, and many other big tech firms share similar political and censorship views–and it is really about suppressing views that they do not like.<\/p>\n

I am neither a Republican nor Democrat, but thought people may wish to be reminded me of a poem from the last century by Martin Niem\u00f6ller:<\/p>\n

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out\u2014
\nBecause I was not a Socialist.<\/i><\/p>\n

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out\u2014<\/i>
\nBecause I was not a Trade Unionist.<\/i><\/p>\n

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out\u2014<\/i>
\nBecause I was not a Jew.<\/i><\/p>\n

Then they came for me\u2014and there was no one left to speak for me.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, there are moves from the left and from the right against freedom of speech and freedom of the press.<\/p>\n

In the USA, at least, that is not supposed to happen. Here is the first amendment to its Constitution:<\/p>\n