Info Nuggets
Charlie Kirk assassination
FILE PHOTO: Founder and president of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S., February 28, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo/File Photo
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Military discipline meets free speech
Pentagon cracks down on troops’ social media posts over Charlie Kirk assassination
• Incident: Charlie Kirk (31), a conservative activist and close ally of Donald Trump, was assassinated in Utah during a public event.
• Aftermath: Some US troops made social media posts mocking or celebrating his death.
• Response: Pentagon, under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, initiated swift disciplinary action under a zero-tolerance policy.
• US military crackdown: The US military is taking disciplinary action against troops over social media posts linked to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, with a “zero-tolerance” policy towards those celebrating his death.
• Number of troops affected: Likely dozens of service members have been disciplined, with actions, including relieving service members from positions and admonishment.
• Uniform Code of Military Justice: US troops don’t have the same free speech rights as private citizens and can be punished for public-facing comments violating “good order and discipline”.
• Article 88: Prohibits “contemptuous words” against the US President, defense secretary, Congress and other senior officials.
• Chilling effect: The crackdown may create a chilling effect on permissible speech by US troops, with some deleting social media posts to avoid repercussions.
• Trump’s order: President Trump has ordered the Department of Defense to rename itself the “Department of War”, pending Congressional action.
• Implications: The incident highlights the balance between free speech and military discipline, with potential implications for US military personnel’s online activities.
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