A short clip of Polk County, Florida commissioners IN THEIR OWN WORDS, followed by screenshots of the racist, homophobic, misogynistic, and vulgar content Commissioner Bill Braswell has shared on HIS OWN Facebook page.
Braswell complains about citizens’ vulgar responses and alleged lies, while COMMISSIONER RICK WILSON says he’s tired of people “trashing us” and suggests getting rid of the social media comments section.
FIRE, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, has emphasized a fundamental constitutional principle: Government officials cannot selectively suppress protected speech in a limited public forum simply because they find it offensive or critical.
The Supreme Court NEVER said citizens must flatter elected officials, agree with them, or spare their feelings to enjoy First Amendment protection.
So was misinformation REALLY the motive behind shutting down public comments on Polk County’s government pages? Or was it criticism they simply couldn’t tolerate?
Braswell exercises HIS freedom of speech, but when constituents speak their minds, suddenly it’s a problem?
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗗: Free speech for THEM. Silence for YOU.
A short clip of Polk County, Florida commissioners IN THEIR OWN WORDS, followed by screenshots of the racist, homophobic, misogynistic, and vulgar content Commissioner Bill Braswell has shared on HIS OWN Facebook page.
Braswell complains about citizens’ vulgar responses and alleged lies, while COMMISSIONER RICK WILSON says he’s tired of people “trashing us” and suggests getting rid of the social media comments section.
FIRE, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, has emphasized a fundamental constitutional principle: Government officials cannot selectively suppress protected speech in a limited public forum simply because they find it offensive or critical.
The Supreme Court NEVER said citizens must flatter elected officials, agree with them, or spare their feelings to enjoy First Amendment protection.
So was misinformation REALLY the motive behind shutting down public comments on Polk County’s government pages? Or was it criticism they simply couldn’t tolerate?
Braswell exercises HIS freedom of speech, but when constituents speak their minds, suddenly it’s a problem?
Want to see more? 60+ screenshots of Braswell’s own Facebook posts: https://drive.proton.me/urls/6H1TK6SYB8#6y81QBB2gyWj
If elected officials can’t take the heat of public criticism, perhaps they don’t belong in public office.
𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗧: ALL FIVE COMMISSIONERS voted unanimously for yet another resolution restricting the voices of the very people who elected them!
Free speech for THEM. Silence for YOU.
𝗛𝗬𝗣𝗢𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗦