John Whitehead

The Government Wants to Play God. What Does That Mean for Our Freedoms?

The government wants to play god. It wants the power to decide who lives or dies and whose rights are worthy of protection. Abortion may still be front and center in the power struggle between the Left and…

The Case Against Technofascism: When Big Tech Companies Censor Speech

Social media platforms censor in two primary ways. First, the platforms “remove[] posts that violate [their] terms of service or community standards.” NetChoice, LLC v. Att’y Gen. Fla., 34 F.4th 1196, 1204 (11th Cir. 2022). Second, the platforms…

Florida ‘No Go Zone’ Law Could Chill First Amendment Activity, Thwart Citizen Journalists & Embolden Police Misconduct

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Recognizing the need for the government to strike that necessary yet delicate balance between liberty and safety, The Rutherford Institute has concluded that Florida’s “no go zone” law, which would criminalize approaching or remaining within…

Rule by Criminals: When Dissidents Become Enemies of the State

“In these days of worldwide confusion, there is a dire need for men and women who will courageously do battle for truth.”— Martin Luther King Jr. When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime, you are being ruled by criminals.…

Court Fails to Hold Constables Accountable for Wrongfully Evicting Blind Man, Leaving Him Homeless During a Snowstorm

WILMINGTON, Del. —The U.S. District Court for Delaware has refused to hold government officials accountable for knowingly enforcing an eviction order against the wrong person: a blind man, who was then left homeless with his daughters during a…

The Language of Force: How the Police State Muzzles Our Right to Speak Truth to Power

“If the state could use [criminal] laws not for their intended purposes but to silence those who voice unpopular ideas, little would be left of our First Amendment liberties, and little would separate us from the tyrannies of…

Government Tries to Sidestep Accountability for Violating Citizens’ First Amendment Right to Political Expression Critical of Biden & Trump

LAKELAND, Fla. — The Rutherford Institute is challenging attempts by the government to sidestep accountability and avoid having to make financial restitution for violating the citizenry’s First Amendment right to political expression, including the right to criticize Presidents…