Ashland County cancel culture

[RichardHurt]

The situation unfolding in Ashland County, Ohio, raises serious questions about political expression and free speech. The Ashland County Sheriff's Office is reportedly considering criminal charges against members of the local Democratic Party for selling controversial buttons at the county fair that were critical of President Donald Trump.
The buttons in question included phrases like "Is he dead yet?" and the number "8647," which is interpreted as a call for the removal of the 47th president. Following complaints, fair officials shut down the booth and had the members escorted off the fairgrounds. The Sheriff then escalated the matter by involving the Secret Service and suggesting the buttons could constitute a "threat."
This entire action—the immediate shutdown, expulsion, and investigation into criminal charges over political merchandise—is a textbook example of cancel culture, not from private citizens, but from government-backed local authorities. When a local government attempts to use the force of law and criminal investigation to suppress political speech it deems "offensive" or dislikes, it crosses the line from maintaining public order to viewpoint-based censorship.
Political speech, particularly criticism directed at public figures, is at the heart of the First Amendment. Organizations like the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) have rightly weighed in, stating that this kind of acerbic political rhetoric is squarely protected and that attempting to suppress it is viewpoint discrimination—or "censorship in its purest form."

Ashland County ABC

[RichardHurt]

[quintessentone]

It looks like they all need to get everyone doing what the right has been doing all along, that being 'go low'. Fight going low with going low in any in the same manner as the right. Take a page out of Gavin Newsom's playbook in that regard and double the efforts.

[UltraBudgie]

This is extremely dangerous to our democracy.

[RichardHurt]

This is extremely dangerous to our democracy.

It is very concerning and has been bothering me a bit. If this kind of reaction to political free speech is going to be the new norm then those on the right that support this have no room to talk about freedom of speech.
I am sure someone will pop in here defending this action.

[DontTreadOnMe]

Is it free speech to want to POTUS dead?   Actually, eliminated?

How is this different than yelling "FIRE" in a building?

IMO, calling for the death of public officials is part of how the country got to this bad place.

[UltraBudgie]

Is it free speech to want to POTUS dead?   Actually, eliminated?

How is this different than yelling "FIRE" in a building?

IMO, calling for the death of public officials is part of how the country got to this bad place.

One measure is the "Watts Factors". They are, 1) the context of the statement or statements in question, 2) the reaction of the recipient or listeners, and 3) whether the threat was conditional. These may be used by a court to determine whether of not the expression constitutes a "true threat", placing it beyond free speech protection. In this case, it would appear that both the potential reaction and lack of conditionality of the second and third factors are there, and the counter-argument to the first factor applying would be that the context indicates it to be mere "political hyperbole", in the "vituperative and abusive" language of the political arena, as the Supreme Court phrased it. Is that the case? Certainly the current political rhetoric is heated to hyperbole and beyond, and the particular language in this instance is only arguably specific in the means and actionable nature of a threat. Additionally, the Watts Factors have never been codified explicitly by the Supreme Court, their application is a matter of lower court practice.

https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/watts-factors/

But also, this sort of just sounds like Republicans being butthurt wussies.

[RichardHurt]

Is it free speech to want to POTUS dead?   Actually, eliminated?

How is this different than yelling "FIRE" in a building?

IMO, calling for the death of public officials is part of how the country got to this bad place.

Find me the proof that 86 means to kill.
It's origin is debated but it most certainly didn't come from any military. It came from service industry in the 1930s as a term that means to get rid of, throw out, or refuse service.

[quintessentone]

Is it free speech to want to POTUS dead?   Actually, eliminated?

How is this different than yelling "FIRE" in a building?

IMO, calling for the death of public officials is part of how the country got to this bad place.

The rhetoric is interpreted through the eye of the biased beholder, IMO.

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"Felon: Is he dead yet?" - I don't see that as calling for someone's death.

"Fascism. 86 47 - One day we will wake up to his obituary." - That's not calling for his death.

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Look at Trump's rhetoric that might incite some right wing nutters to pick up a gun.

"Unlike Biden’s isolated comment, Trump has a longstanding history of using dehumanizing language toward his political adversaries and marginalized groups, frequently referring to them as "vermin," "enemies from within," and other disparaging terms."

"Trump has repeatedly labelled Harris a “communist” and a “California radical,” using nicknames like “Comrade Kamala” and suggesting her policies are similar to those of failed communist regimes."

Donald Trump: Garbage Row: 15 times Donald Trump used dehumanising language | World News - Times of India


People took Lauren Boebert's words to mean to want Biden dead.

"“Joe Biden’s president. We don’t know what to do, Lord!” Boebert said. “It’s all right, we pray for our presidents. You know, it says, ‘Let his days be few and another take his office.’”"

Lauren Boebert Appears To Pray For Joe Biden's Death In Texas Sermon

But considering the divisive and violent climate there, both sides put targets on each others backs with this type of rhetoric.

[David64]

Is it free speech to want to POTUS dead?   Actually, eliminated?

How is this different than yelling "FIRE" in a building?

IMO, calling for the death of public officials is part of how the country got to this bad place.

Don't bother. They'll just play semantics and claim words don't really mean what you think they mean.

Whataboutisms will come hard and fast.

My opinion : If the Democrats think it's political persecution and believe their Freedom of Speech has been violated, fight it out in court.