The ACLU and Free Speech Absolutism
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has, since 1920, ardently defended the freedom of speech in America and abroad, in the courts and in Congress, in law and in society. The ACLU has always stood by a robust philosophy: “I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. Famously, in 1978, the ACLU represented a neo-Nazi group in Chicago arguing that, despite municipal objections and the hateful nature of their organization, the group had the first amendment right to stage a march for their cause. In 2019, the ACLU defended Conroy et al., a pair of students who, over a weekend, went to a shooting range, legally purchased firearms, and posted photos of their weapons on social media. Another student claimed the photos made him afraid to attend school and the school disciplined Conroy despite the fact that there were no threats of violence contained within his post. The ACLU successfully argued that the school disregarded Conroy’s constitutional righ...