In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s murder many have called for limits to free speech. Some of this is motivated by a worry that various media platforms might be a device for radical indoctrination, while others are deeply troubled by some people’s reaction to Mr. Kirk’s passing. Regardless of the intention behind these calls for censorship, an individual’s First Amendment rights must be defended, absolutely.
We of the New Jersey Libertarian Party vehemently reject all attempts to cancel, deplatform, restrict access to, or otherwise prevent individuals from expressing their views. Freedom of Speech, a cornerstone of American society, should not be limited, suspended or infringed upon by the government. The First Amendment was not created to merely protect a person’s right to express positive or acceptable views, but was intended to safeguard individuals from being targeted by the government if and when their ideas were unpopular. No individual should have to fear for their health or well-being for speaking their mind in public, or on their own personal media accounts. We may adamantly reject the content of their speech, and all have the right to distance themselves from, disagree with or even ridicule those who espouse ideas that they find abhorrent, but one's own personal ideologies, morality or politics is insufficient for disempowering others.
We Libertarians further admonish all attempts made by individuals, political entities, public figures, or media outlets to use their own feelings of distaste, displeasure or offense to mobilize the public or political forces to harm, silence or deplatform others. Regardless of what tragedies befall our society, the hurt we might feel, or our differences of opinion, we stand in support of an individual's right to express themselves, even if said expression is “problematic”, “distasteful”, “offensive”, “sinful”, or even “Un-American”. Nothing is further from the American spirit than denying people their First Amendment right to express themselves.
That said, we Libertarians also defend the right of property and the value of contracts. Private entities, businesses, organizations and institutions maintain their right to internally manage their own platforms based on whatever standards and practices they chose to maintain. Privity of contract requires us to respect terms freely agreed upon by those who willfully consent to them. We support the right of private employers to dismiss at-will employees for whatever reason they want, but vehemently oppose government intimidating corporations, especially media corporations, into firing employees because of their political views.
What happened to Mr. Kirk on September 10th, 2025 was inexcusable. No one should have their life taken simply because of what they say. Given Mr. Kirk’s lifelong championing of free speech, it would be utterly disgraceful to his memory and mission to abandon it now. Anyone who calls for the disempowerment or harming of another in response to this tragedy is aligning themselves with his killer.
In Liberty,
The New Jersey Libertarian Party