Protect Your Freedoms by Kicking Van Orden Out

This letter to the editor, by Cheri Evjen, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on October2, 2025.

Americans have always valued freedom of speech above all else. We understand that the ability to have and share opinions, even opinions that some Americans don’t like, is a bedrock principle upon which our nation was founded.

Not anymore.  In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s needless death, MAGA Republicans have turned any comments they disagree with into a permission slip to investigate, fire, and even bring criminal charges against Americans for sharing opinions.

That’s not how the 1st Amendment works, but that didn’t stop Brendan Carr, Chairperson of the FCC, for making veiled threats against ABC if they didn’t fire Jimmy Kimmel. Ted Cruz was among several conservatives who recognized how dangerous Carr’s unconstitutional threats were.

 Cruz called the current administration’s efforts to punish speech they do not like “dangerous as hell.”  “It might feel good to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, yeah. But when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it.” 

Wisconsin Congressman Derrick Van Orden, who exercised his free speech to threaten teenage library workers and Senate pages, wants to prosecute speech he doesn’t like as “domestic terrorism.” He would strip $10 million in federal funding from Eau Claire and would take funding from “the entire city of Ellsworth” because he disagrees with the social media posts of 3 people.

 In a chilling attack on the 1st Amendment, he asked “if this is what they are saying in public, what are they saying in private?” The answer is none of your business, because private speech is also protected by the 1st Amendment.

ABC, in response to public backlash over censorship, will end the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.  While his return is an important victory, the current President, his MAGA allies, and right-wing radicals like Derrick Van Orden will continue to fight to ensure that only their voices will be heard.

Americans who love freedom and the Constitution must stay in the fight. Aggressively defending free speech for everyone is the best way to protect all of our cherished freedoms. Voting Derrick Van Orden out is another great way to protect freedom for everyone.