by Mick Rhodes | editor@claremont-courier.com

Since January 20, President Trump has repeatedly claimed “free speech is back.” The truth is only certain kinds of free speech are “back”: the kind the administration approves of. Speaking up against what U.N. human rights experts and Amnesty International have deemed a genocide in Gaza? That speech is “anti-Israel.” Not allowed. Agree with proven statistics that show white supremacy, redlining, poll taxes, and other systematic impediments have over time limited access to generational wealth for Black people in America? Sorry, not allowed. That’s racism.

The First Amendment has guaranteed the right to free speech — even some extreme enough to be called hate speech— since 1791. It’s bedrock America. But the First Amendment is just words on old parchment when you get right down to it, a symbol of the agreement between the three branches of government that they will respect the right of the people to express themselves freely, without fear of state interference or retribution. It’s always taken everyone’s cooperation for it mean something. Courts have at times limited its reach, other times expanded it. Mistakes have certainly been made. But for a good 234 years, it’s always been an essential component of America’s DNA.

But The Times They Are a-Changin’.

The Trump administration has justified the abduction and attempted deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Green Card-holding legal permanent resident of the United States, by citing his pro-Palestinian speech at Columbia University as “anti-Israel.” And? The First Amendment protects to the right to protest, including speech critical of the U.S. or foreign governments. It protects the rights of free speech for all kinds of views, even those most find abhorrent, especially for legal residents. Khalil’s abduction is about sending a message: toe the line; and if you don’t, we can do whatever we want to you.

Former Claremont Mayor Opanyi Nasiali and his wife Kathryn protest the Trump administration’s cuts to programs and institutions that support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on Wednesday at Foothill and Indian Hill boulevards. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

The Trump administration is trying to intimidate us into silence, so it can run roughshod over the Constitution. Universities such as Columbia, fearful of losing federal funding, are caving to Trump’s demands to toe that line. The intimidation campaign is working. People are afraid to speak up. Even here in Claremont.

“Trump’s executive orders and threatening letters from the administration have had a chilling effect on campus speech,” said Pomona College Professor of Politics Amanda L. Hollis-Brusky. “No one wants to be the next target. No one wants to be the next Columbia University. Colleges and universities are trying to fly below the radar so as not to incur the wrath of this administration.”

This fear isn’t limited to college campuses. I’ve spoken with Claremont Unified School District administrators who expressed the identical sentiment: they are keeping their heads down so as not to attract unwanted attention. In fact, they asked not to be identified in this column for that very reason.

I understand wanting to shelter children. I wouldn’t want my CUSD kid mixed up in this mess.

But silence is not what a college education is about. It should be loud, messy, maybe even a little chaotic. It’s about exposing young minds to different points of view and learning new information. It’s about questioning authority, not fearing it. College campus protests are patriotic. They’re as American as it gets. Stifling dissent is authoritarian stuff. Dictator stuff. Not U.S.A. stuff.

A colleague working on a story about how free speech is being squelched at the Claremont Colleges told me pro-Palestinian protesters active for the past two years are fearful to speak up, especially — understandably — foreign undergraduates on student visas. But the chill has also affected U.S. citizen student protesters, young people who shouldn’t be made to be afraid to be in the streets right now. But many apparently are: the Courier hasn’t covered a protest on a Claremont College campus since January 20.

Thankfully, some educators are not toeing the line.

“The current environment may have put a chill on free speech for scholars teaching or researching other areas, but I personally still feel entirely free to speak my mind in class, and was very frank in recent interviews for foreign and local media on President Trump’s foreign policy approach to the war in Ukraine,” said Hilary Appel, the Podlich Family Professor of Government and George R. Roberts Fellow at Claremont McKenna College.

“I continue to do my job, which is to educate our students and the people about the Constitution — what it protects and allows, how it limits power to prevent tyranny,” echoed Hollis-Brusky. “These are vital lessons for students and everyone to learn, especially in this moment.”

Traveling outside Trump’s America

It’s that time again: wife Lisa and I are preparing for another trip, this time to England and Wales. Her people are in and around Liverpool and all over Wales, so this adventure will include a bunch of distant relations and visits to graveyards, familial homes, and the like.

Normally we’d be studying maps, reading up on hotels and landmarks, and otherwise enjoying the dopamine rush of planning and packing.

But things are different this time.

Lisa too is a Green Card holding permanent U.S. resident. She holds a U.K. passport, has been in the U.S. since she was 11, has raised five American children here, and works for the state of California in higher education. She’s a law-abiding taxpayer and quality addition to America of the highest caliber. Still, we’ve talked about what to do if she’s stopped by Trump’s immigration goons.

I’ve written about the failures of our government, its shameful support of the genocide in Gaza, and any number of wrongheaded, cruel, and sometimes illegal schemes that have trampled on our rights and injured undeserving Americans. Hell, I’m doing it in this very column. Should I be worried about being pulled aside for questioning?

Some may think these concerns silly. We’re just two normal folks from a small town making a living. We are decidedly low profile. Some might say no profile.

But the Trump administration has made clear it is willing to get granular in its efforts to intimidate. Several friends have sent info on how to protect our information while overseas. Many have said we should use burner phones. Burner phones! I hadn’t thought about them since I was binging “Breaking Bad.” How could Lisa and I ever be considered candidates for burner phones?

We’re going to be smart and realistic in Europe, but we’re not changing our plans. And I’ll never shut up, no matter who is or isn’t listening. I implore you to do the same.