Recently, the subject of free speech has resurfaced in America in ways we never could have imagined. In 2025, we find ourselves at a crossroads—where speaking out can result in deportation for some, or the loss and reduction of critical funding in our communities. We are witnessing the retraction of grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial support for higher education institutions due to DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) restrictions or for allowing the exercise of free speech through protest marches.
Not since the Vietnam War have we seen such a profound test of our First Amendment rights. Even during the days when the Ku Klux Klan held marches across the country, the principle of free speech was upheld. It’s astonishing that free speech has become such a contentious and fragile topic—both here at home and in discussions about America around the globe.
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, we must remember how this country came to honor that holiday. In the 1970s, it was on college campuses that students rose up to protest the Vietnam War. Yes, some were arrested—but deportation was not even considered. In the 1960s and 1970s, people were beaten and even murdered for exercising their right to free speech.
Some may argue that today’s threats—such as deportation for speech-related actions—don’t affect them personally. Sadly, that view is mistaken. Free speech is about the right to express your beliefs, to speak out when you feel your rights have been violated. Democracy in this country is eroding at a rapid pace—and it will only continue to do so if people turn a deaf ear to what is happening.
