Attorney General Announces Crackdown on Hate Speech
In Washington, Attorney General Pam Bondy stated on Monday that she will “absolutely” pursue individuals who express “hate speech” following the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
“There’s freedom of speech, and then there’s hate speech,” Bondy said during an episode of “The Katy Miller Pod.” She emphasized that given recent events, there is simply no room for such discourse in society now.
“We are definitely targeting you. If you’re spreading hate through your words, we will pursue you,” she added.
Bondy’s remarks were met with swift criticism from various conservative commentators. They pointed to a 2024 post by Kirk where he claimed that “hate speech is not legally recognized in America.”
After receiving backlash, Bondy clarified that her focus would be on “hate speech that threatens violence.”
Bondy expressed her thoughts on Twitter, stating that for too long, radical leftists have normalized threats, called for assassinations, and celebrated political violence. She insisted this behavior must end.
She further noted, “You can’t accuse someone of murder. You can’t target members of Congress or publicly share the personal information of conservative families thinking it’s protected as ‘free speech.’ Such actions are criminal and will be treated as violations of the law.”
While Bondy championed a crackdown on hate speech, she recognized the complexity of defining it. Historically, hate speech has often involved derogatory statements aimed at specific groups, including racist and sexist remarks.
Kirk, known for criticizing censorship, seemed to suggest that his definition of hate speech did not encompass encouragement of violence. In a 2024 post, he stated, “In America, hate speech does not exist legally. There are ugly speeches. There are vile speeches. They are all protected by the First Amendment. This safeguards our freedom.”
Bondy not only promised to pursue hate speech but also called out individuals for making offensive statements and claimed their employers should distance themselves from such people.
She referenced a recent situation involving an Office Depot employee who refused to print materials for Kirk’s funeral and suggested the Department of Justice might take action in that case.
“Businesses must not discriminate,” she stated on Fox News. If someone wants a poster made in memory of Charlie, they should be allowed to fulfill that request.
Regarding the Office Depot incident, the employee was let go, and the company issued an apology.
Reactions to Bondy’s comments were quick and sharp from the right. Conservative radio host Eric Erikson remarked that if Bondy believes hate speech is prosecutable, it could lead to serious repercussions for religious figures discussing traditional marriage or gender.
Further criticism came from Philip Klein, an editor at National Review. He argued that the First Amendment exists to protect speech that some may find objectionable.
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) responded, stating there are no exceptions for hate speech under the First Amendment and urged the Attorney General to consider Supreme Court interpretations of free speech.
On the same day, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller spoke about organized strategies to combat leftist groups that incite violence, citing issues like doxing campaigns and organized riots.
In a tragic turn of events, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed last Wednesday while speaking with a student at Utah Valley University. Authorities have arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspect in his murder, and charges are expected to be filed soon. Former President Trump has called for Robinson to receive the death penalty.
