Political power: Rounding up the anti-royals

Defenders of the United Kingdom’s monarchy insist that it is ceremonial and does not, in practice, exert much political power. While that’s largely true, a good deal of governmental power is currently being exercised to shut down those who are criticizing the monarchy amid King Charles III’s succession. …

It doesn’t matter whether you love the monarchy or hate it; these stories should chill you to the bone if you care about free speech.

These British citizens simply spoke out in public against their government. They weren’t violent. They didn’t trespass. They didn’t call for violence. They simply communicated their disdain for the monarchy and levied public criticism against government officials.

If that can get you arrested, you’re not living in a free society. Period. …

Of course, none of these acts of censorship would hold up legally if the U.K. had free speech protections similar to our First Amendment. But it does not. And that’s the real takeaway for Americans witnessing this Orwellian saga.