Terrorism

Free Speech vs. Hostile Protests: The Moral and Legal Line Between Dissent and Violence

By Dr. Chris Meek| May 23rd, 2025

Free speech is a cornerstone of democracy—but it is not a shield for hatred or a license to kill. When protests turn into acts of violence, as seen in the murder of Israeli Embassy staffers Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, society must draw a clear moral and legal line. This OpEd examines how weaponized rhetoric, cloaked as dissent, threatens not only lives but the very freedoms it falsely claims to defend.

Still mourning Flight 103 and the lives they never got to live

By Chris Meek, a 1992 graduate of Syracuse University, is the co-founder of the national nonprofit, SoldierStrong, which helps injured military veterans take their next steps forward in life by connecting them with revolutionary military technology. He lives in Stamford, Connecticut., | December 21st, 2023

In his guest opinion piece titled "Still mourning Flight 103 and the lives they never got to live," published on December 21, 2023, in The Post-Standard, Chris Meek reflects on the enduring impact of the Pan Am Flight 103 tragedy. He emphasizes the profound loss experienced by the families of the 270 victims, including 35 Syracuse University students, whose potential and contributions were tragically cut short. Meek underscores the importance of honoring their memories and the collective responsibility to ensure such acts of terrorism are never forgotten.

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