Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito sounded the alarm about the precarious state of freedom of speech and religion on U.S. college campuses during a commencement speech at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio on Saturday. Alito cautioned that these bedrock constitutional principles are under siege in the very places where they should be most vigorously defended.
“Troubled waters are slamming against some of our most fundamental principles” Alito warned stressing the vital role of universities as forums for open and reasoned discourse. Yet he contended that in practice few colleges truly live up to this ideal stating “Support for freedom of speech is declining dangerously especially where it should find deepest acceptance.”
"Right now in the world outside this beautiful campus, troubled waters are slamming against some of our most fundamental principles," Alito said in his commencement speech to Franciscan University of Steubenville. https://t.co/YU0TpV4s4G
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) May 12, 2024
Alito’s remarks appeared to allude to the ongoing turmoil on campuses where student-led protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza have frequently silenced dissenting opinions and denounced those who support the Jewish state. He warned that the deterioration of free speech protections runs counter to core American values.
In addition to freedom of speech Alito expressed grave concerns about the overall state of religious liberty in the United States. Addressing the Catholic university’s graduating class he cautioned that they may encounter pressure to endorse ideas they reject or abandon their core convictions urging them to hold firm to their beliefs.
Supreme Court Justice Alito's Shocking Warning About Free Speech on Campus!#FreeSpeech #CampusDebate #AlitoOnSpeech #SupremeCourt #Constitutionhttps://t.co/iXo2U6s0my
— Zoop Press (@zooppress) May 13, 2024
“Freedom of religion is also imperiled” Alito warned. “When you venture out into the world you may well find yourself in a job or a community or a social setting when you will be pressured to endorse ideas you don’t believe or to abandon core beliefs. It will be up to you to stand firm.”
As a practicing Catholic Alito has previously raised concerns about the eroding support for religious freedom in America pointing to cases where people of faith are branded “bigots” for holding beliefs that oppose same-sex marriage. His latest comments highlight his ongoing worry about the state of First Amendment rights on college campuses and in American society more broadly.
