House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) have both condemned the actions of some campus protesters, stating that their activities, including making threats towards Jewish students and vandalizing property, are not protected under the First Amendment. Johnson, a constitutional law attorney, emphasized that the protests do not represent a free marketplace of ideas but constitute open threats. Similarly, Lieu highlighted that while free speech is a right, it does not extend to actions that cause physical damage or make students of Jewish descent feel unsafe.
Speaker Johnson on pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses: “This is not free speech. I am a constitutional law attorney … This is not the free marketplace of ideas. This is open threats to Jewish students.” https://t.co/Attivjx2EM
Ted Lieu: "You have the absolute right to free speech but the First Amendment does not give you the right to break windows, to vandalize buildings and to make students who happen to be of Jewish descent feel unsafe…” https://t.co/WuFgQmaPY8
Democrat Ted Lieu: "You have the absolute right to free speech but the First Amendment does not give you the right to break windows, to vandalize buildings and to make students who happen to be of Jewish descent feel unsafe.” https://t.co/73I086SIJY
“You have the absolute right to free speech ... but the First Amendment does not give you the right to break windows, to vandalize buildings ... and to make students who happen to be of Jewish descent feel unsafe.” — Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) condemns some campus protesters https://t.co/L1IwqMMt3Q
“This is not free speech. I am a constitutional law attorney. ... This is not the free marketplace of ideas. This is open threats to Jewish students.” — Condemning campus protests, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) says activists’ language is not protected by the First Amendment https://t.co/BUJfIIhT1k