Our right to free speech is sacred. We are not bestowed the right from government or nobility - it is ours in America the moment we are born.
In 2021, not everyone wants it that way.
People in North Branford, Conn. are in an uproar because three or four young men - most likely teens - recorded an Instagram video in which they drunkenly yelled some racist terms and even disparaged the late George Floyd.
The young, white men use the n-word a few times and then declare, “This is for George Floyd's weak-ass neck. George Floyd's weak-ass neck. Hope the next generation have stronger necks."
The words are vile and the video is gross. The young men come across thuggish and crude, splashing around in the warm filth of the gutter. It’s a bad moment and it was seen by thousands of users online.
Now, the North Branford Police Department has weighed in with a press release they posted on Facebook.
“The North Branford Police Department is aware of a disturbing, disgusting and abhorrent video which was released via a social media platform Instagram. In this video we have identified two North Branford residents. This incident is an active investigation and is currently being evaluated by the New Haven States Attorney’s office. We will continue to work with our Law enforcement partners and community leaders to address this incident. This video in no way identifies the values, morals or beliefs of any of our residents in North Branford. We along with all of you are angry and outraged by these individuals actions. We stand with all of our community in condemning racism and will proceed further with all recommendations and actions recommended by the Connecticut States Attorney’s office.”
Wait a second here. What exactly are the police and the Connecticut States Attorney’s office investigating?
Where was the crime?
Free speech, yes, even hateful speech is protected in the Constitution. Even in the Constitution State itself.
The men were not threatening anyone nor were they addressing anybody face to face or slandering or libeling or inciting or airing classified information or violating any copyrights or trade secrets or non-disclosure agreements or anybody’s right to privacy or public security. Nor were they perjuring themselves.
So just what is the state up to?
They are looking to punish the men because the current culture does explicitly want to to reduce some free speech and will attempt to use the power of institutions to enforce their standards of acceptable dialogue.
Though the language those young men used is gross, that the state is pursuing them is abhorrent and a danger to us all.
Free speech won a fight this year when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Brandi Levy, a teenager who was kicked off her school cheerleading squad over a profane Snapchat post.
Let’s hope the spirit of free speech wins the day again and the North Branford Police Department and Connecticut States Attorney’s office get back to doing their jobs rather than demonstrating fealty to the scriptures of wokeism.