Times Union photo illustration via Getty Images.

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins is hardly the best-known member of Congress, and his Louisiana district is far from where this newspaper is published. Yet the Republican's recent assault on the First Amendment is so egregious that we feel compelled to comment.

In response to Charlie Kirk's killing, Mr. Higgins wrote on social media that he intended to use his congressional authority "to mandate (an) immediate ban for life of every post or commenter that belittled the assassination." The Republican also explicitly called for severe punishments for those who hadn't treated Mr. Kirk's passing with what Mr. Higgins believed to be the proper reverence.

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

This week, the Times Union editorial board is spotlighting recent efforts to chill, silence or even criminalize speech and actions protected by the First Amendment.

"I'm also going after their business licenses and permitting, their businesses will be blacklisted aggressively, they should be kicked from every school, and their driver's licenses........

© Times Union