Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has warned students that “support for free speech is declining,” especially on American college campuses.
Alito made the remarks during his commencement speech at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, last weekend. Anti-Israel protests are rocking college campuses across the United States.
“Right now, in the world outside of this beautiful campus, some of our most fundamental principles are under attack. Support for free speech has declined dangerously,” Alito said. said Saturday. “Especially in places where it should have the widest and most widespread acceptance.”
“St. John Henry Newman, in his book “The Idea of the University,” saw the university as a place where there is reason to discuss it. Few universities today live up to that ideal. he continued. “This place is one of the few places that does that, and you’re very lucky to have that experience.”
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Justice Samuel Alito delivered the commencement speech at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, on Saturday.
Alito also told students that religious freedom was “under threat.”
“When you step out into the world, you may find yourself in a job, community, or social environment where you are pressured to support ideas you don’t believe in or to abandon your core beliefs. It’s up to you. It’s up to you to stand firm… to speak out,” he said.
Alito spoke as the Supreme Court considers a number of high-profile cases, including whether former President Trump can claim presidential immunity from criminal charges filed by the Biden Justice Department.
Justice Alito asks whether presidents need to fear ‘hostile political opponents’ will throw them in jail
On April 24, a woman was arrested during an anti-Israel demonstration at the University of Texas. (Jay Janner/American Politician)
Alito questioned its impact in late April, amid debate over the former president’s lawsuit.
“Now, sitting members of Congress who lost a very close and hard-fought election know that the real possibility of annulment after they leave office is that the president will not be able to retire in peace, and that the president could be subject to criminal prosecution. So if we have a hostile political opponent, doesn’t that lead us into a vicious cycle that destabilizes the functioning of our country as a democracy?” he said.
Alito also told students in his speech that religious freedom was “under threat.” (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin, File)
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“And we can look around the world and find countries that have witnessed this process where the losers are put in prison,” Alito added.
Fox News’ Brianna Herlihy and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
