What is protected under the freedom of speech?

Freedom of speech series part 1

Amendment 1: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The First Amendment specifically outlines that the government should not enact laws that infringe on speech. This includes speech that some may find disagreeable.

Speech protected by the First Amendment includes symbolic speech, such as flag burning, political speech, even if it's false, offensive or hateful words and phrases, and the absence of speech, such as refraining from saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

U.S. courts continue to wrestle over which types of speech are protected by the First Amendment and which are not, while free speech advocates work simultaneously to ensure First Amendment rights are not infringed.

“If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” — U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan Jr.

Be a conscious consumer. Understand the freedoms and limits of the First Amendment.

Sources:

United States Courts: “What does free speech mean?” https://bit.ly/3RKGPvP

Freedom Forum: “What speech is protected by the First Amendment?” https://bit.ly/467egwI