The only speech that needs protecting is the speech we hate to hear. That’s why Glenn must defend the right for people like Taylor Lorenz and BLM chapter leader Hawk Newsome to say awful things, even if it kills him to do so. Speaking to Piers Morgan, Lorenz said she was “joyful” that United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was murdered. And speaking to the press, Newsome called for “black vigilantes” to rise up after the acquittal of Daniel Penny. So, is this speech, which glorifies violence, protected under the First Amendment? Glenn explains the “fire in a crowded theater” Supreme Court case that provides the answer.
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: All right. I will play some stuff.
Got to be said.
And I want you to know. What I'm going to say to you here, is only -- I'm only saying it, because it is absolutely true.
And it only counts, when it takes everything in you, to say it.
It's easy to say, well, we have the right.
It's easy to say that. It only counts, when you hate saying it!
And I hate saying this.
With that, let me play a couple of clips of audio.
Let's first play, Taylor Lorenz, as she was talking with Piers Morgan, about the killer of the United Health Care, CEO.
STU: Why would you be in such a celebratory mood about the execution of another human being?
Aren't you supposed to be on the caring, sharing left?
Where, you know, you believe in the sanctity of life?
VOICE: I do believe in the sanctity of life. That's why I felt along with so many other Americans, joy, unfortunately.
VOICE: Joy? Seriously? Joy at a man's execution?
VOICE: Maybe not joy, but certainly, you know -- certainly not empathy.
VOICE: We're watching the footage.
How can this make you joyful? This guy is a husband. He's a father. And he's being gunned down in the middle of Manhattan.
VOICE: What about the tens of thousands of Americans that are being murdered?
So are the tens of thousands of Americans -- innocent Americans who died because greedy health insurance executives like this one push policies of denying care to the most vulnerable people.
GLENN: Nonsense.
VOICE: Hang on.
VOICE: Okay. Probably not joyful.
VOICE: You said you were feeling joyful.
VOICE: Yeah, I take that back. Joyful is the wrong word here.
VOICE: You think? You think joyful is the wrong word? I'd say it is.
VOICE: As I clarify, sure. Sure. Sure. But celebratory because, again, it feels like justice in the system, when somebody responsible --
GLENN: Okay. Stop.
STU: No. Please, let her keep talking. That was awesome.
GLENN: I can't take it anymore.
STU: Are you sure, joy isn't the right word? It's amazing.
GLENN: Now, let's go to Daniel Penny. Daniel Penny is found innocent.
I think anyone looks at what he did.
What he tried to do.
The spirit he tried to do it in. He was not trying to kill anyone.
He was trying to protect people.
BLM of New York, which is only sold, I think -- the only thing they do is sell hats. You know, that say, F the mayor.
You know, whatever. They came out. And this is what they -- this is what the head of BLM New York said, after the Daniel Penny trial.
VOICE: We need some black vigilantes. People want to jump up and choke us!
And kill us, for being loud. How about we do the same?
When they attempt to oppress us. I'm tired.
VOICE: Right.
GLENN: Boy, am I tired.
STU: Don't get tired. It's important to make sure you're well-rested.
GLENN: Yeah, get your rest. You might get a little cranky. You might do and say some crazy things.
Okay. So let me talk about those two statements quickly.
If I said this and said, it's time for some vigilantes.
Not even white or black. Just, it's time to get some vigilantes.
They would do everything they could, to get me off the air.
Everything. And I wouldn't say that.
Because I don't believe in that.
I believe in the Constitution. But here's a guy who can say that, and no one says a word except amen.
No one on the left. No one in the media. Well, he's got reasons to say that, you know.
Okay. But I would be blackballed. I -- my life would be over, if I said that.
Taylor Lorenz, she's out of her mind nuts. Okay? Out of her minds, nuts!
How many times do we have to hear this woman, say crazy things like, I don't feel joyful?
Just celebratory. Because somebody was gunned down in the streets.
Because she thinks health care is murdering people in America. Okay. Here's -- here's what I -- I -- oh, my gosh.
Stu, you have aspirin on you or anything?
Because if I have a stroke while saying this. Please, just put some aspirin on my tongue, so I might survive a little bit on this.
All of these people have a right to say that. Here is -- you can't cry fire in a crowded firehouse.
I don't know. They were just in a courtroom saying, we should kill people!
Like him.
I don't know.
Here is the actual court ruling. This is from 1969.
Court said, there's a two-pronged test to evaluate speech.
One, speech can be prohibited, if it is, quoting, directed at inciting or producing imminent lawless action.
Now, you can say, we have a vigilante. Why don't we kill people?
That is inciting. It is! Inciting people to go and take lawless action.
But it isn't imminent lawless action. If somebody then picked up guns and started mowing down black people or white people. Or people that have bad acne or perfect faces or whatever it is.
Then that speech, he would be responsible for it.
But the court says, it is such a -- such a fine line here.
That it -- you have to go so far before your speech is banned.
It has to be one, directed at inciting or producing imminent lawless action.
And two, likely to incite or produce such action.
Two standards!
Both of them have to be met.
I am only spitting this out, because I hate what these people have said.
I despise what these people say.
I believe with everything -- every -- every piece and every cell of my body, what they're saying is evil.
But because I'm an American constitutionalist. I defend their right to say it!
And it only matters to say these things, when it kills you to say it. And it's killing me to say it!
For all those on the left, that claim, that they are the banners of justice. They believe in the Bill of Rights. They believe in freedom of speech.
But it has limits.
Yes! Those are those two limits.
That's as far I have seen people go in a week. Maybe in my lifetime!
And I'm not calling for them to be silenced.
And if you'll notice, nor is most people on the right.
No one is saying, get them. Because we hold certain truths to be self-evident.