Freedom of speech must apply to everyone, even when we disagree with the message. That’s supposed to be the promise that the First Amendment brings. Lately, though, it has felt like that promise depends on who’s holding the mic.
During his campaign, President Donald Trump promised, “I will bring back free speech in America because it’s been taken away.” Once in office, his actions contradicted that pledge. Instead of restoring free speech, the Trump administration has created a climate where speaking out against those in power carries consequences. If that is the precedent that is being set in this country, what does this mean for us, the people who disagree and choose to voice it thoughtfully and respectfully? If national leaders can silence those in disagreement, what’s stopping local government, school boards and even principals from censoring student journalists like us?
On Sept. 17, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC)—with threats to their funding by Trump appointed Head of Communications Commison—suspended the production of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after Kimmel criticized Trump and his supporters’ reaction to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel’s words before the break were, “We’ve hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Hateful? Violent? Threatening? Obscene? Libelous? No—simply free speech.
The crackdown is not limited to late-night television. Across the country, speech is under siege in classrooms, on campuses and online. As reported by Reuters in September, a West Point law professor filed a lawsuit claiming the academy now requires faculty to get prior approval before speaking or publishing. Teachers in Texas and Florida have been fired for private social media posts criticizing Trump or for discussing topics like gender and race. Book bans and curriculum restrictions are spreading through schools under the guise of “protecting children,” narrowing what students are allowed to read and what teachers can say. Even global digital platforms aren’t immune from pressure to limit and censor content, whether it be from governments, corporations or authorities who seek to control what people can see.
Censorship is happening on both sides of the political spectrum. There are the extremes, with Kirk’s public killing on the right or the murder of the Minnesota state Representative, Melissa Hortman, former House speaker, Mark, and their family dog on the left. Violence to silence “the other side,” has become too normalized, even for viewers watching it through their screens. If a liberal president were targeting conservative hosts and teachers, outrage would be just as strong. Freedom of speech should not be exclusive to one political party, but a universal right that the founding fathers intended.
The conflict with Kirk and Kimmel may feel distant from Marin, or even entertaining from where we are within our “safe blue bubble.” Here at Redwood, where we don’t face book bans or teacher firings, it’s easy to assume that this doesn’t affect us. That, however, does not mean we are powerless. Whether it’s comedians on television, teachers in classrooms or students online, the message is the same: speak out at your own risk. That’s not the promise of the First Amendment.
But there’s hope. On Sept. 23, Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air after a public uproar. Fans, fellow comedians and even conservatives, like Ted Cruz, spoke out on his podcast, arguing that satire was the way to keep democracy alive. Kimmel himself said, “This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.” This comeback proved that when people speak up, change is possible.
As student journalists, our job is not just to report stories but also to defend our rights in writing. The First Amendment exists to safeguard criticism of the government and the right to disagree, even when it makes us uncomfortable. Kimmel’s return shows that public pressure works. We are fortunate to live in a community where speaking out carries fewer consequences, but that privilege comes with responsibility. Using free speech responsibly isn’t just about being heard, it’s about being efficient. This means double-checking your reposts to build factual accuracy, avoid trolling online and to use your platform to challenge injustice, opposed to fueling division. It’s important to take a moment after any pivotal event in our society, to think before you engage in the conversations on social media. If we don’t use our voices effectively now, we might not have a choice with them in the future.
