Prof. Jane Kirtley Interviewed on MPR About Whether the Right of Free Speech is Being Restricted
Professor Jane Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law, was interviewed on MPR about how the right to dissent and speak freely is essential to democracy. But under the Trump administration, some forms of speech and viewpoints carry harsh consequences. The discussion focused on who feels free to speak, who feels silenced, and whether it’s possible for everyone to be heard. In response to a question about whether free speech is being threatened right now under the Trump administration, Prof. Kirtley said, “Yes I do, and I think there are two ways to look at it. One is the direct threats that are being imposed by the Trump administration against a variety of institutions ... the press ... universities, and law firms that are being intimidated into silence or are asked to be complicit in the mission of the Trump administration to silence debate and discussion.”