Should inspiring insurrection be protected as 'free speech'?

in jefferson •  3 years ago 

image.png

The thing that a lot of people don't realize about free speech is that, from the very beginning, the idea that calling for insurrection was a contestable component of what qualifies as free speech.

Thomas Jefferson's "Tree or Liberty" letter was itself technically a call for insurrection in perpetuity. Jefferson believed that, if the republic were to survive, there should be an armed rebellion every twenty years.

The Sedition Act was passed in 1918 under the biggest dickhole to ever hold the presidency and has since been regarded as being among the most egregious violations of the First Amendment in our country's history.

First Amendment principles have always been intended to defend speech even if that speech inspires insurrection. If we're going by Jefferson's terms, the First Amendment exists to protect precisely that speech.

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!