The right is waging a war on speech. Institutionally backed by billionaire funding, a certain group of people are financing those who claim to be First Amendment advocates, all while weaponizing the legal system to silence those who disagree with them politically. The right is waging a war on freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and the freedom to voice dissenting opinions. It is all part of NSPM‑7. This is all part of their plan, and we are well aware of it.
So here we have a veteran who, according to the news I have read, has been told that the First Amendment has its limits, and offensive speech isn’t protected. Of course, the jury, the state, and the legal system—the constitutionally defined judicial system that grants me the right to a public defender and to freedom of speech, fundamental aspects of American culture, history, and the social contract—will determine that what I spoke is no crime at all. I have no doubt about that.
But that does not stop the court costs. It does not stop the legal fees. It does not stop the need for funding just to survive day to day. An arrest can cost you your job, your livelihood, and your income, and that is what it did to me. That is what this arrest did to me. I lost my job. I lost my income. I have been put into an even more precarious situation, relying on the solidarity of others. Because unlike certain internet celebrities, unlike some people who call themselves influencers, I have to work a regular job like everyone else. No one is paying me for my opinions. I am not funded through unknown means. I am funded through this GoFundMe, solidarity from friends, and a Patreon account that makes about sixty dollars a month. That is it. That is who is funding me. That is where my support comes from.
I refuse to let them silence me. But I cannot continue to survive the war being waged on our speech without more solidarity, more funding, and more people sharing this story. Because they are waging this war. And if they can silence me over something being offensive, then they can silence you, which means they can silence anyone. Just because something said is offensive or disagreeable does not make it illegal or unconstitutional to speak. Yet we are called the snowflakes. We are the ones who supposedly hate free speech. Yet you will not find a leftist, a socialist who is willing to use the legal system to silence our opposition. We do not weaponize the legal system while carrying the banner of being free speech advocates, all while making money off the marketing that says "We are the ones who claim to stand for liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and justice for all. We stand for the Constitution and free speech." The right carries that banner, uses that marketing, but to the right, a veteran using their First Amendment rights? That is simply unacceptable, and it must be stopped by any means necessary, up to and including costing them their job, sending them to jail, and burdening them and their family with thousands of dollars in legal and bond fees. All while marketing themselves as the true First Amendment advocates.
Of course, there is no point in calling out hypocrisy in a war scenario. We both know that those on the right have no actual principles. They have no actual lines. They have no actual belief systems beyond what makes them money. And if sending a veteran to jail over his speech helps generate donations, then they will do it.
This is a war against the working class of this country and our ability to speak freely, waged by people who do not work regular jobs and who receive their funding from millionaires. A simple donation or share might be enough to turn the tide of this war.
So please, if you could share this legal fund, or even donate to it, that would be appreciated. Because they are waging a war on our speech. They are attempting to impose years of prison time for speech, and the sheriff has already said that the First Amendment has its limits here in Florida. We need your support. We need your solidarity. We are need people to step up and support our fight to protect speech, even if it's offensive or vulgar. It's our constitutional right.
Erik Houdini
https://www.gofundme.com/f/erik-houdini-legal-fund