Following through on a promise he made last month at the Conservative Political Action Conference, President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday protecting free speech on college and university campuses.
As Christian Headlines previously reported, President Trump announced last month at the CPAC that he would be signing an executive order protecting free speech following a violent attack on a conservative student at the University of California, Berkeley.
Hayden Williams was punched in the face by a man at the end of February while helping a conservative campus group, Turning Point USA, set up a recruitment table.
According to CBN News, this is only one incident in a growing trend of silencing conservative students on college campuses.
As such, President Trump vowed to sign an order that would require colleges and universities to protect free speech – regardless of political or religious leanings – or they can lose federal research grant money.
“Universities that want taxpayer dollars should promote free speech, not silence free speech,” President Trump said at the executive order signing ceremony on Thursday.
Several students and student organization leaders were also present at the ceremony. One-by-one President Trump asked each student to speak to their experiences of being silenced on college campuses.
One woman, Polly Olsen, was handing out valentines on her college campus last year that had messages written on them saying things like, “You are special, and Jesus loves you.” Olsen shared that twice her college stopped her from handing these cards out, even after she sought legal counsel. Five years ago, the college assured her that they would change the school’s policy, but still, Olsen is being told her cards are “disruptive” and could be “offensive” to some.
The executive order will work to remove “free speech zones” – designated places on campus where students are allowed to voice their opinions freely and openly – and protect the sharing of both conservative and liberal ideas on college and university campuses. If the institutions refuse to adhere to the requirements imposed by the order, they risk losing their portion of the $26 billion the National Science Foundation says is granted annually by the federal government for college research projects. Christian Headline News.
Amendment I to the U.S. Constitution
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 Mayflower Compact
Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.
