The United States was built on the idea that people can speak freely, even if others don’t like what they say. That freedom is written right into the First Amendment of the Constitution. But a new poll shows that many young liberals today no longer believe in that basic freedom. In fact, some even think violence is okay if it helps silence ideas they don’t like.
This should deeply concern every American who values liberty.
The Young America’s Foundation recently released a poll of over 1,000 young voters, ages 18 to 29. They were asked about the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. Kirk was a conservative leader who stood up for freedom, faith, and traditional American values. When asked if there was any justification for killing someone over their political beliefs, 70% said no. That’s good—but it also means 30% did not give a clear “no.”
Even worse, 42% of liberals polled said Kirk’s views meant he “brought the violence on himself.” Let that sink in. Nearly half of young liberals believe that if someone says something they don’t like, violence might be acceptable.
This is not just a political disagreement. It’s a rejection of the very idea that people can think differently and still live together in peace. Our Founders knew that free speech is the key to a free society. They protected speech not just for the popular opinions of the day, but especially for the unpopular ones. After all, it was once unpopular to speak out against the British crown. But brave Americans did it anyway—and that’s how our nation was born.
The same poll also found that 53% of young liberals think conservative ideas should be shut out of public discussion. They don’t want to argue or debate. They want to silence. This is censorship, and it goes against everything our country stands for.
Even more troubling, many young people don’t think the First Amendment should apply to comments they find offensive. Less than half believe it protects people who say something negative about a race or who celebrate violence in speech. That’s a dangerous misunderstanding. The First Amendment exists to protect all speech, not just the speech we like. Once we start making exceptions, we lose the freedom altogether.
This isn’t an isolated problem. Other polls show the same trend. One poll found that 28% of Democrats thought the country would be better off if President Trump had been killed in the 2024 attempt on his life. Another showed that 55% of left-leaning people said assassinating Trump would be “at least somewhat justified.” These are shocking numbers that reveal a growing belief that violence is acceptable in politics—if it serves the left’s goals.
This is not how a free republic works. In America, we settle our differences with ballots, not bullets. We use words, not weapons. And we defend the rights of others to speak—even when we don’t agree with them.
The left’s desire to silence and punish those who think differently is not new. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of Democrats supported forcing unvaccinated people into special facilities. That kind of thinking has no place in a free country.
We must return to our roots. We must teach our young people the importance of free speech, open debate, and peaceful disagreement. The Constitution doesn’t bend to feelings or fads. It stands strong as a safeguard for liberty.
President Trump understands this. He has stood boldly for free speech and against the cancel culture mob. It’s time for the rest of the country to follow that lead.
If we want to keep the America our Founders gave us, we must reject violence, reject censorship, and stand firm on the bedrock of the Constitution. The future of freedom depends on it.
