The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing this Tuesday to examine restrictions pursued on certain books in schools and other environments around the country, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the top Republican on that panel, quickly got into it with witnesses.
Graham alleged, in short, that the agenda of those concerned about the spread of these restrictions on books actually constituted a push for the silencing of altruistically concerned Americans. There’s no conspiracy to simply shut down Americans’ free speech. The reality is that concerned observers have pointed to a difference between simple free speech and the obsessive targeting of marginalized groups and vulnerable individuals under the guise of some kind of protective measure.
“Can a parent, a taxpayer complain under this theory, or should they just shut up?” Graham antagonistically questioned Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who was appearing as a witness before Senators.
“I would make the exact argument you are,” Giannoulias replied, trying to find common ground. “This is about parents making decisions.” Graham predictably interrupted and promptly began basically yelling, pushing for the continuance of advocacy against materials perceived as harmful to communities — an approach that recent events nationwide have shown could easily be weaponized to suppress already marginalized or historically oppressed communities, like LGBTQ+ groups and Black Americans.
“I think what’s important to remember is that this is a collective decision,” another witness, Illinois professor Emily Knox, said. “It’s not just one person who gets to say what is in a library collection.”
Graham missed the point — and the basic facts, arguing again as though there’s some kind of organized affront against free speech rather than simply Americans expressing concern about political advocates trying to even shut down discussions about LGBTQ+ people existing. “There’s nothing in the Constitution preventing everybody in this country from having a say, to express yourself, to try to mold the community in a way that you think is better, and some of the things being pushed through this agenda are just quite frankly offensive,” Graham complained to his audience.
