The Sedition Act of 1918 “forbad the use of ‘disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language;’ about the United States Government….” This law appears to be a wildly unconstitutional violation of freedom of speech, but it was passed by Congress, signed into law by a President, and upheld by the Supreme Court.
That is how easy it is for freedom to die….
One person who was prosecuted under the Sedition Act was Eugene Debs, who was arrested for making an anti-war speech in Canton, Ohio. He was convicted of sedition and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1919. Ten years in prison for making a speech!
Fortunately, the Sedition Act was repealed by a new Congress in 1920. Eugene Debs was released from prison by a new president in 1921.
[Here is an excellent book about the Constitution.
If you buy it from this link Anything Smart
will earn a small commission. Thanks!]
America's Constitution: A Biography.
That is how fast freedom can make a comeback….
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its predecessor, the CLB, were started to fight against bad laws like the Sedition Act of 1918.
Today I started a recurring donation to the ACLU.
Just in case there are more threats to freedom coming….
You can find out more about The Sedition Act here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedition_Act_of_1918
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Copyright © 2024 by Joseph Wayne Gadway
Hoping we don't lose many freedoms but good to know that if we do they can be easily restored
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. We will never give up!
DeleteOur liberties are certainly being threatened right now, with the words of our elected president. People don’t seem to care!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. This is a very sad time we are living in, but we will do everything we can to protect our rights.
Delete