By ALASKA ATTORNEY GENERAL, STEPHEN J. COX
The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk has shaken our nation. His life was defined by courage in defense of the First Amendment, and his death is a sobering reminder that free speech is never secure unless we are willing to stand up for it. Charlie understood that the answer to speech we don’t like is not censorship or violence, but more speech—and he lived that principle with conviction. Like Governor Dunleavy made clear earlier this week, Charlie’s courage calls us to a higher standard.
In that spirit, and with the Governor’s backing, I recently joined other attorneys general in writing colleges and universities to remind them of what the law already requires: they cannot impose discriminatory security fees, cancel events, or single out speakers for unfavorable treatment simply because their views are controversial. To do so is nothing more than a heckler’s veto—or worse, an assassin’s veto.
That letter was directed to higher education, but my message is broader. We must speak directly to all schools about the importance of protecting First Amendment rights regardless of the views espoused and preserving the marketplace of ideas. When institutions promise open debate but then use security or administrative discretion to exclude certain views, they betray that promise and diminish the value of education itself. If schools yield to fear and suppress speech, they will train the next generation to do the same.
This message is especially urgent for our public colleges, universities, and schools. As government actors, they are duty bound to honor the Constitution, not to bend it whenever pressure mounts. The Alaska Constitution makes that duty explicit, and under both statute and our common-law tradition, it is my responsibility as Attorney General to enforce it.
As Attorney General, I am duty bound by Alaska law and the Alaska Constitution to enforce compliance with constitutional mandates. That includes ensuring our public colleges, universities, and schools do not misuse security or facility policies to silence disfavored voices. The First Amendment is not a suggestion. It is binding law, and it applies to every public institution in this state. Public administrators do not get to cancel speakers or impose unequal burdens because they are worried about criticism or disagree with their viewpoints. They cannot yield to hecklers by silencing the speaker instead of protecting the right to speak.
This is as true for high schools as it is for universities. The lesson our students must learn is that disagreement is not danger. The healthy answer to ideas we oppose is engagement and argument, not suppression—and certainly never violence.
My wife and I first met Charlie nearly ten years ago in October of 2015. He had started Turning Point USA a few years prior, and he had already grown it to 1,000 schools and colleges nationwide. Charlie was young, brimming with energy, and a force of nature. Over the years, we ran into each other several times and shared dozens of close mutual friends. The last time I reached out to him was to see if he might come to Alaska—to speak with young people and maybe spend a couple days fly fishing. That was Charlie: an Eagle Scout who loved the outdoors and found renewal in it, but who loved even more the chance to challenge students to think.
Charlie never chose the safe route. He believed deeply that free speech meant little if it only protected uncontroversial voices. He walked into auditoriums where hostility was certain, and he did it not out of anger but out of conviction. He was living proof that the First Amendment is most vital when it feels most at risk.
Charlie Kirk’s life should remind us that free speech is not an abstraction. It is lived, defended, and sometimes paid for at the highest price. To honor him, we must not retreat into quiet or fear. In Alaska, we will stand firm. The marketplace of ideas must remain open in our universities, our high schools, and every place where young people learn to be citizens. That is my duty under the Constitution, and it is the least we can do to honor Charlie’s legacy.
Stephen J. Cox, 28th Attorney General of Alaska.
Remember Melissa Hortman
Who was a Democrat own-goal
you didn’t even know who she was until you read this article. TamponTim appointed the thug who murdered her.
OK, remembered. And, this is a false equivalency.
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Also remember no one knew who she was until her murder hit the news. If 100,000 people knew her by name, I would be surprised. Tell me, without looking it up, do you know who the Speaker of the Alaska State House is? Neither did I. On the other hand, millions knew who Charlie Kirk is by name, if not, they know what Turning Point USA is.
Remember too. After she was killed, there were no celebrations. No tweets, or social media posts celebrating her death. Nor did anyone present a list of others they wanted to see dead as well.
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Finally, where do you leftists get your talking points from? You are one of hundreds that are making this false equivalency argument, as if “whataboutism” is a valid debating technique.
Canceling, intimidating, and attacking Liberal commentators and comedians who criticize the Administration can hardly be called defense of Free Speech.
Cry about it.
Jimmy crapped in his own bed.
Bring it up with Sinclair broadcasting and ABC/Disney. Last I checked the left owned the media. Put your dogs on a leash if you don’t want to scrape them up with a shovel.
Are you trying to say that I am not free to express my displeasure at their comments? Talk about suppressing free speech.
Sorry Hans. If they left wants to claim they have a free speech right to say what they want, I also have a free speech right to say it offends me. The 1st Amendment does not exist to protect speech you agree with.
Blah blah, blah, here’s the deal. UAA is a failed institution. Continue to fund at your own demise. Time for a change.
Does this mean you will be suing the federal government for controlling what can be said on college campuses by students, faculty, and administrators?
Campaign speech by a guy contemplating a run for US Senate.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
You realize Mr. Kirk was speaking on a college campus, even though there had been calls for it to not be allowed??
Your message is pretty confusing.
But he DID get assassinated. And numerous times got harassed. Confirmed by Grok: Question:Did Charlie Kirk face harassment regularly at campuses? Answer:
Yes, Charlie Kirk faced harassment regularly at college campuses during his speaking events and debates. As the founder of Turning Point USA, Kirk was a polarizing figure known for his provocative conservative views, which often drew significant opposition from students and activists. Reports indicate that his campus appearances frequently attracted protesters, some of whom engaged in confrontational behavior. For example, at a 2023 event at UC Davis, confrontations occurred, including protesters smashing glass panes and clashing with groups like the Proud Boys, though Kirk himself was not directly harmed in that instance. Additionally, Turning Point USA stated that Kirk had received “thousands” of threats throughout his life due to his activism, particularly related to his campus tours. His open-air debate format, where he engaged directly with students under a canopy, made him both accessible and vulnerable to hostility, with some events requiring heightened security measures like metal detectors or police presence. While specific incidents of physical harassment were less frequent, the contentious nature of his events often led to verbal confrontations, protests, and occasional disruptions, reflecting the polarized reactions to his presence on campuses.
How can you call the above message “pretty confusing”? Even students who have been taught under the Alaska Read Act can probably get the message. BTW, the Anchorage School Board, of which you are a member, only allows 3 minutes of freedom from citizens. Sometimes citizens are limited to 2 minutes. And the worst part-there is no discussion between the board and the speaker.
Why is there no discussion? The ASD Board turns a deaf ear to its citizens. Without discussion, there really is no debate about good ideas/suggestions.
So Andy, are you really saying that if there are calls for a particular person to not speak on a college campus, then that person should not be allowed to speak? Sounds like the banning of Free Speech by a government agency. That will result in only government approved speech being heard. Kinda like a dictatorship.
Thanks David for calling him out on his quick assessment.
Considering the school boards treatment of the publics reaction to their method of dealing with the issues brought up at meetings his remarks fall on deaf ears in the same manner.
As soon as enough parents wake up and realize the impact of ASD’s failure of their responsibility to children there wont be enough children to support their cause.
My children and grand children will never set foot in a public school ever as long as these stooges and imported superintendent failure are in charge.
The most important call was the one made locally by yours truly “ASD” to NOT allow Dr. Ben Carson to speak to children on a ASD school campus.
Afraid to lose control of your children?
We wont be sitting around waiting for your phony excuse on that blunder.
There are protests to stop any conservative voice from speaking on any college campus.
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What is your point? Are you implying Charlie Kirk ignored that protest and brought his assassination upon himself? That is a stretch at best.
Will you really protect those of us that are silenced at school board meetings because we say someone’s name or position? Will you really prosecute the school boards that create illegal policies that suppress the right to petition our public officials by name and rank? Will you investigate the Association of Alaska School Boards for their work to antagonize, retaliate against and suppress the voices of all of us who tried to speak up in support of truth and evidence?
I’ll believe it when I see it. Most of us are not shot and killed, but many have had their lives, livelihoods and reputations utterly destroyed by public officials afraid of the truth that free speech can expose.
Free speech is precious and under attack. Talk is cheap.
As long as it’s your ideologically approved Freedom of Speech. Talk is cheap Mr AG.
Excellent article.
It’s not often I appreciate the quality of one’s writing so much that proceeding to scan the comments section feels like a nosedive onto dirty pavement.
Kudos, AG.
Right?!
Why is there still no justice for Mary Fulp?
I do not know.
Why isn’t there justice for her?
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Unanswered questions are where you start the investigation, not a conclusion.
You care so much allegedly.
Do you have any intellectual curiosity of the obvious FBI coverup, of the assassination, of Charlie Kirk?
Your article reeks of “establishmentarian”….
While this piece may be well intended, the reality is that it stirs the pot for our Christian homeschooling family. How can we expect our high schoolers and college students to live to a moral and ethical standard or to have positive social values, let alone debate amicably, when all of the materials and “rules” that are being pushed on them and taught during formative gradeschool years are tainted with other agendas?! I would like to challenge Mr. Cox to take on ALL of the education institutions in Alaska to require a standard for freedoms of speech and religion, to require a more even standard when it comes to fundable privileges in any educational capacity.
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