Keith Richards, the comedian best known as Kramer on the popular 90’s sitcom Seinfeld, “verbally assaulted” members of his audience at an LA comedy club. It ended his career.
Tucker Carlson, former FOX News host, was canceled after his commentary was deemed “too controversial.” He took refuge on Twitter/X.
Lenny Bruce’s comedy landed him in jail because it was “obscene”, but his fight for free speech revolutionized stand-up comedy.
George Carlin’s comedy routine “The Seven Dirty Words You Can’t Say on TV” landed him in jail more than once. Were the seven dirty words obscene – or merely offensive – and why is there a difference?
About the Book
[SPEECH] is a book about people. The people who fought to create and protect the right of free speech. Their legacy is under assault.
Whether it’s on college campuses, in the workplace, on social media, on playing fields, within medical review boards, school boards, or communities, people are uncertain about what rights they have to freely debate the issues of the day. Do you have an opinion? Are you afraid to express it? Many people are — and it’s a problem that is worsening worldwide.
[SPEECH] is about the people who are fighting these battles today.
Free speech is a bedrock of the freedoms guaranteed in a free society – but it’s a right that is disappearing. Want to tell a humorous story or a joke? Want to criticize your school board, city council, or Congress, but are afraid of the blowback? Want to post a controversial opinion on social media? Afraid you’ll be put in Facebook jail? Your account will be deactivated?
[SPEECH] is about all of these topics and more.
Johnny Depp had to fight against defamatory accusations of violent behavior. Elon Musk spent $42 billion to open free speech on Twitter. Biden v. Missouri used The Twitter Files to expose the link between the FBI and Facebook.
Doctors who spoke out against masks and lockdowns lost their medical licenses. Medical students who asked about treatments with Ivermectin were shamed in medical schools. A Federal judge was shouted out of Stanford Law School. All these events attest to there being less free speech than there was five years ago.
How did we get here?
[SPEECH] traces the history of free speech from Ben Franklin through the COVID crisis, showing how people have fought to preserve the right.
On YouTube: Is Your Right to Free Speech in Jeopardy?
The Law in 120 Seconds on Free Speech
Trump’s First Amendment Right to Free Speech – Under Assault?
