A final argument for broad freedom of expression is its effect on the character of individuals in a society. Citizens in a free society must have courage – the courage to hear not only unwelcome political speech but novel and shocking ideas in science and the arts. Anthony Lewis, Freedom for the Thought That We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment 2007
Speech is an essential mechanism of democracy, for it is the means to hold officials accountable to the people ... The right of citizens to inquire, to hear, to speak, and to use information to reach consensus is a precondition to enlightened self-government and a necessary means to protect it ... By taking the right to speak from some and giving it to others, the Government deprives the disadvantaged person or class of the right to use speech to strive to establish worth, standing, and respect for the speaker’s voice. The Government may not by these means deprive the public of the right and privilege to determine for itself what speech and speakers are worthy of consideration. The First Amendment protects speech and speaker, and the ideas that flow from each. Anthony Kennedy, Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, 558 US 310 2010 obiter
Free speech is the bedrock of liberty and a free society. And yes, it includes the right to blaspheme and offend. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Nomad: From Islam to America
The West has fiscalised its basic power relationships through a web of contracts, loans, shareholdings, bank holdings and so on. In such an environment it is easy for speech to be free because a change in political will rarely leads to any change in these basic instruments. Western speech, as something that rarely has any effect on power, is, like badgers and birds, free. Julian Assange, cited Guardian 3 December 2010
I think it’s very difficult for Western people to understand that lack of freedom among factory workers in Japan. Especially freedom of speech. You can’t express your opinion at all. Satoshi Kamata, author Japan in the Passing Lane: An Insider’s Account of Life in a Japanese Auto Factory
Stifling free speech, no matter what you call it, is humbug. Penn & Teller, Bullshit! s2e6: Profanity, Showtime 2004
It’s very easy to believe in free speech for those we agree with. Rumpole of the Bailey s2e4: Rumpole and the Fascist Beast, Rumpole, ITV 1979
This is in theory still a free country but our politically correct, censorious times are such that many of us tremble to give vent to perfectly acceptable views for fear of condemnation. Freedom of speech is thereby imperilled, big questions go undebated, and great lies become accepted, unequivocally as great truths. Simon Heffer, Daily Mail 7th June 2000
This is one of the most important first amendment cases in American history.’ Nobody Speak: Trials of a Free Press, critic, 2017
Hogan suing the website Gawker [Bollea v Gawker] for publishing a website that shows him having sex with a former wife of radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge. ibid. news
Against a backdrop of mistrust of the media. ibid. critic
It just gets weirder and weirder and weirder. ibid.
Gawker claims he’s fair game and it’s news. ibid. television news
Hogan breaks down crying at the verdict. ibid. critic
$140 million in damages. ibid. television news
Hulk Hogan’s Benefactor Revealed: Tech Billionaire Funded Lawsuit Against Gossip Site. ibid. television news banner
The United States as the world knows will never start a war. The Post ***** 2017 starring Meryl Streep & Tom Hanks & Sarah Paulson & Bob Odenkirk & Tracy Letts & Bradley Whitford & Bruce Greenwood & Matthew Rhys & Alison Brie & Carrie Coon & Jesse Plemons et al, director Steven Spielberg, Kennedy
We can’t let an administration dictate our coverage. ibid. Ben
What is it you think we do here for a living, kid. ibid.
Vietnam Archive: Pentagon Study Traces 3 Decades of Growing US Involvement. ibid. Sheehan Times article
We got over 100 pages of the McNamara study here. ibid. journalist
They lied to Congress and they lied to the public. ibid. Leak
If we don’t hold them accountable, my God, who will? ibid. Ben
This is an historic fight. If they [Times] lose, we lose. ibid.
How can you ban language, words? How’re words offensive? And why should I have to tolerate your interpretation? I’m the one using the word. Ask me how I’m using it, don’t tell me. And if you don’t like the way I’m using it, so what? It’s my right. It’s my freedom of expression. Without that, we’re nothing but slaves. My language, now fuck off! John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten, re court case against Richard Branson and record shop for publicly displaying record cover with the words, Never Mind the Bollocks [blanked], Here’s the Sex Pistols
In 2003 Tony Blair and George Bush started to spread this freedom to Iraq. Three coaches of day trippers set off for the US military base in Fairford, Gloucester, to protest against the war. On the way there they were pulled over for a routine traffic stop by over a hundred police in riot gear. The officers held them for two hours and searched every nook and cranny. The operation unearthed some paper masks, scissors, and several toy soldiers. Taking Liberties, 2007
New Labour started to pass more laws than any other government in history … To protect the nation from terror the Blair government passed a series of laws that also undermined our basic liberties. ibid.
Freedom of Speech means sometimes having to listen to things you don’t want to hear. Tony Blair got round this problem at the Labour Party conference by banning any mention of the Iraq war. ibid.
You can now be fined for disagreeing with the government anywhere in the country. You don’t even have to voice your concerns if you are the long arm of the law. ibid.
It is now illegal to demonstrate within a kilometre of parliament unless you get an authorisation from the police. ibid.
Mia and Milan held a memorial service outside Downing Street. They were reading out the names of Iraqi civilians and British soldiers who had died since the invasion of Iraq. Luckily, fourteen policemen were on hand. ibid.
In June 2001 Brian Haw started his peaceful protest against sanctions placed on Iraq. Over the next four years the government repeatedly arrested Brian and took him to court. But Brian won every time. So the Home Secretary David Blunkett changed the law ... 78 police paid Brian a visit. ibid.
The Home Secretary now has the power to make anywhere in Britain a protest free zone … The first people to be arrested under the new law were two grandmothers. ibid.
The police have used the Terrorism Act to stop and search over 100,000 people. Though none of them were actually terrorists. ibid.
The Suffragettes felt that Civil Disobedience was the only way to get their message across. And it worked. ibid.
For the first time since he came to power Tony Blair lost a vote in the House of Commons. But he still managed to increase the pre-charge detention to twenty-eight days. ibid.
Tony Blair’s most expensive legacy will have been to turn over the entire country into a perfect prison. ibid.
The War on Terror kept David Blunkett very busy. In 2003 he got to fly to the USA and signed an extradition treaty which puts your liberty at the mercy of American justice. ibid.
The British prime minister who helped to destroy the one liberty that is supposed to be non-negotiable: the ban on torture. ibid.