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Anarchists Helped Build Up Free Speech. Donald Trump Is Tearing It Down.

The replacement of the term 'free speech' with 'constitutionally protected speech' in the Age of Trump reflects the threats to free expression in the United States. Dissenting Republican legislators face social media backlash, while the Trump administration has cancelled grants and contracts and threatened deportation of pro-Palestinian student protesters. The history of American anarchists in the early 20th century, as detailed in 'American Anarchy' by Michael Willrich, shows the government's use of imprisonment and deportation against radical agitators. The legal battles of the era helped shape modern First Amendment law, guaranteeing speech protections even for those inciting rebellion or revolution. The press, once a government ally, is now under attack, as shown in David Enrich's 'Murder the Truth,' which explores the growing success of libel prosecutions against journalists and news organizations.

Original article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/29/books/review/how-anarchists-helped-build-up-free-speech.html
Source Id: 2025-03-674783180

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