The government’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian student protests is not just unconstitutional—it’s a grotesque betrayal of American values. And the most disturbing part of this crisis is not the students’ speech, but the conservative reaction to it.

In the wake of campus demonstrations, conservative leaders have condemned students for chanting “From the river to the sea,” calling it a call for genocide and demanding punishment. But this outrage is not about principle—it’s about power. It is about using the First Amendment not to protect free expression, but to silence dissent when it challenges the dominant political narrative.

The government’s response—Title VI investigations, threats of funding cuts, and the use of federal oversight to punish universities—mirrors the very same overreach the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals condemned in Al-Timimi v. United States. In that case, the court ruled that even speech that is “inflammatory, disturbing, and deeply offensive” is protected under the First Amendment if it lacks a concrete plan for violence. The court made it clear: the government cannot criminalize speech simply because it is ideologically dangerous. Yet now, the government is doing exactly that—punishing students for expressing views it finds offensive, just as it once punished Al-Timimi.

But the real betrayal of American ideals comes not from the students, but from the conservatives who claim to defend the Constitution. By demanding that students be punished for their beliefs, by equating peaceful protest with terrorism, and by calling for the suppression of dissent, these leaders are doing far more to undermine democracy than any student ever could. They are not defending the First Amendment—they are weaponizing it. They are using the language of liberty to justify repression. And in doing so, they are betraying the very principles of free speech, equality, and justice that this country was built upon.

The government’s actions are unconstitutional. But the conservative condemnation of student speech is even more un-American. Because true Americanism is not about enforcing ideological conformity. It is about protecting the right to dissent—even when it is offensive, even when it challenges those in power. And that is exactly what the government and its conservative allies are now trying to destroy.

Note: This article was written using AI tools, then edited and refined to reflect the views and opinions of the author.