These are our most basic civil rights which have been guaranteed by governments around the world for hundreds of years. Wars have been fought over them, people have died for this.
The First Amendment of the US Constitution (adopted in 1791) reads:
Congress shall make no law prohibiting… or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.
The European Convention on Human Rights Article 10 states:
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.
The United Nations created in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948 which states in Article 19:
We all have the right to make up our own minds, to think what we like, to say what we think, and to share our ideas with other people.
These truths are self-evident, and they are the reason we live in a free society that celebrates life, liberty, and justice. Without this most basic freedom, everything we stand for will fundamentally be lost.
If we cannot entertain and debate contrarian ideas in a public forum, how will we progress as a society and a species?
What if the Magna Carta had never stated in 1215 that everybody, including the king, was subject to the law?
What if Martin Luther had never nailed his theses to the door in 1517?
What if the founding fathers of America had never created their Declaration of Independence in 1776?
What if Martin Luther King, Jr. had been unable to speak freely about civil rights in his “I Have A Dream” speech on the Washington Mall in 1963?
Would we be the free-thinking society of liberty and justice of today?
It is only because of Freedom of Speech that we are able to consider all points of view, engage in a healthy debate, and move forward and take the most intelligent action.
Are we heading down a very dark path and if we continue will permanently alter the course of humanity forever?
Are we, as adults, need to be coddled by our governments, regulators, media, and technology companies?
We Believe:
- Freedom of Speech is the most fundamental human right of all
- Censorship has no place in a free society the rule of law in each country
- Digital platforms are in fact public utilities and need to follow
These private companies now act as public utilities, especially now in times of crisis when important information needs delivery to the public. Therefore as such these utilities need to respect the fundamental human rights laws that prevail in the locations they service.
This means complying with the First Amendment of the Constitution, The European Convention on Human Rights Article 10, and the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Article 19.
The law is in fact on our side and it is our duty as citizens to enforce it.
We must all remember that these governments, media companies and technology platforms CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT US.
We are the citizens, the voters, the viewers, the consumers of adverts, and the providers of personal data that keep these dominant entities in power.
We control their future, not the other way around.
WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED.
WE WILL NOT BE CENSORED.
WE WILL NOT BE STOPPED.
Let’s create a freethinking and freespeaking society that we will feel proud to pass on to our children and grandchildren.
The time is now.
To Our Freedom,
(By: Brian Rose, London)
