This one takes a turn to the right.

The events of the past week in our nation have been truly troubling. This began with a pro-Trump rally Jan. 6 on the National Mall that morphed into a violent protest at the Capitol to interfere with Congress’ constitutionally mandated responsibility to count electoral votes, a pro forma event stipulated in Article II and the 12th Amendment which was created before the era of modern communications.

Equally troubling are the resulting threats from employers, corporations and big tech to ostracize and punish without due process anyone attending the event whether they were exercising their peaceful right to protest or engaging in violence.

This includes backlash against conservative politicians who objected to the electors based on perceived voting irregularities as allowed under the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The blacklisting by big tech of the conservative social media site Parlor in the name of public safety only contributes to what has become an overt suppression of free speech.

One of the most controversial pieces of legislation in our nation’s history was the Sedition Act of 1798 restricting freedom of speech and the press. The Federalists feared French infiltrators were trying to undermine the John Adams Administration and labeled it sedition to speak out against the president, Congress, or their policies.

Fortunately, this dangerous assault on the First Amendment was rescinded by the Jefferson Administration in 1802. While what happened at the Capitol is reprehensible and those who engaged in violence need to be held accountable to the full extent of the law, there is a process that must be followed to preserve our rights as American citizens.

America is on perilous ground when we are willing to cede our fundamental rights of free speech and due process to big tech, corporations and employers who now consider themselves the self-appointed arbitrators of truth.

As Benjamin Franklin admonished, “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Brent Breining

Orange Park has a master's degree in public administration and is a retired naval officer.