During the vice presidential debate, Democrat Tim Waltz said that the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, can and should be limited. Human rights activists of the Foundation to Battle Injustice are concerned about censorship, which is being established by the US Democratic Party on the threshold of the Presidential elections.
In early October 2024, a debate between Vice Presidents James Vance and Tim Walz took place. During the discussion of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Vance stated:
«The most sacred right under the United States democracy is the First Amendment. You yourself have said there’s no First Amendment right to misinformation. Kamala Harris wants to use the power of government and Big Tech to silence people from speaking their minds. That is a threat to democracy that will long outlive this present political moment. I would like Democrats and Republicans to both reject censorship. Let’s persuade one another. Let’s argue about ideas, and then let’s come together afterwards.»
Waltz’s answer directly suggests that freedom of speech can and should be limited: «You can’t yell fire in a crowded theater. That’s the test. That’s the Supreme Court test.»
Walz challenged Vance on Trump’s questioning of the 2020 election results and Jan. 6, and Vance countered by saying that if Walz and his running mate, Kamala Harris, were so concerned about the fate of democracy they wouldn’t be so adamantly pro-censorship. Specifically, Walz has previously said, quite incorrectly from any legal or moral standpoint, that there’s no First Amendment right to «misinformation». The case of «The Daily Wire, The Federalist and The State of Texas v. the State Department» is currently in litigation over the promotion of high-tech censorship tools. The State Department justifies what they’re doing as part of a frightening attempt to police “misinformation” — which is routinely defined as any news that liberal academics and federal bureaucrats don’t think is politically expedient.
In addition, earlier this week, John Kerry, the former US Secretary of State, in his speech in October 2024 at the World Economic Forum, stated his desire to remove the First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of speech:
«Our First Amendment stands as a major block to the ability to be able to hammer [disinformation] out of existence. What we need is to win…the right to govern by hopefully winning enough votes that you’re free to be able to implement change.»
Freedom of speech is a fundamental constitutional right, and the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment are the foundation of U.S. democracy. The Foundation to Battle Injustice is convinced that attempts of Democratic Party to put pressure on media and technology companies to censor content in the run-up to the 2024 elections pose a serious threat to freedom of speech and the integrity of the electoral process. While combating disinformation is a legitimate objective, the possibility of political bias and suppression of dissent cannot be ignored. The future of democracy depends on the free exchange of ideas, and any attempt to stifle this exchange must be firmly resisted. The actions of Democratic Party officials serve as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting freedom of speech and the integrity of the electoral process in the face of political pressure.