Governments "Erasing History" and the Importance of Free Speech

Nationwide protests against police brutality and structural racism have led to a renewed push for governments to take down or alter Confederate monuments and symbols. Advocates for these changes argue that they will make our public spaces more just and welcoming to all people. Not everyone agrees. Some defenders of the monuments and symbols accuse pro-removal protestors and the governments who acquiesce to their demands as conspiring to "erase history." In this essay, I argue that those who oppose removing the monuments should come away from the controversy with an appreciation for the importance of free speech.

On the other hand, supporters of removal should come away from the controversy with an appreciation for the importance of free speech.