Loud and bold action for free speech: The National Day of Blogger Silence

Today is the National Day of Blogger Silence.

I posted my One Post on this Day of Silence. http://t.co/FQSc8qm7

— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) June 8, 2012

Bloggers working to expose the shady past and present of left-wing activist and political terrorist Brett Kimberlin continue to be targeted by a gang of speech-chilling thugs. SWAT-ting, vexatious litigation, and online harassment are just a few of the intimidation tactics aimed at muzzling bloggers’ freedom of speech.

The National Day of Blogger Silence isn’t about less speech; it’s about more speech, more action, and more focus on this vicious assault on First Amendment rights. This isn’t a silly, inconsequential blogger spat. Lives have been endangered and it will only get worse unless Congress takes action to stop the thuggery of Kimberlin and his supporters.

As Michelle Malkin wrote on Everybody Blog About Brett Kimberlin Day:

Over the past twenty years that I’ve worked in daily opinion journalism, written books, and traveled across the country speaking in every type of venue, I’ve always believed that the most effective response to attempted censorship of conservatives is more speech, not less.

More. Louder. Bolder.

Blogs may be going dark today, but bloggers and other online activists are taking louder and bolder action to protect and defend the right to speak freely.

So what can you do?

Call and email legislators, hold journalists’ feet to the fire, and use Facebook, Twitter, and other social media to press for congressional action.

On Wednesday, Sen. Saxby Chambliss sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder calling for DOJ action on SWAT-tings. Rep. Kenny Marchant joined the call for a DOJ investigation Thursday. But we still need more voices fighting against the chilling of free speech.

As former Justice Department official Christian Adams points out, it is a federal violation of 18 U.S.C. §241to conspire to deprive someone of his “free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States.”

Members of Congress swore an oath to uphold the Constitution — all of it. Who means it?

The column will get you up to speed on the campaign of harassment targeting conservative bloggers and includes contact information for members of Congress. You can start with the leadership:

GOP House Speaker John Boehner
Online contact form
Phone: (202) 225-0600
Fax: (202) 225-5117
Twitter

GOP Majority Leader Eric Cantor
Web form
Phone: (202) 225-2815
Fax: (202) 225-0011
Twitter

Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
Web form
Phone: (202) 225-4965
Twitter

Other bloggers are joining the Day of Silence by focusing their efforts on pressuring Congress to act:

I won’t blog tomorrow. http://t.co/xXEK0pxS But I’m still going to tweet.

— RBe (@RBPundit) June 8, 2012

New post: National Day of Blogger Silence http://t.co/Dbey3hTe #tcot #FTRRadio

— Tom Reynolds (@Beregond) June 8, 2012

"National Day Of Blogger Silence" #TCOT #NationalDayOfBloggerSilence #FreeStacyMcCain #DefendTheFirstAmendment http://t.co/1yogxTTn

— JimDelRey #ChiComDelendaEst (@JimDelRey) June 8, 2012

National Day of Blogger Silence http://t.co/f0KbcBFD

— (((WJJ Hoge))) (@wjjhoge) June 8, 2012

https://twitter.com/DarthWyatt/status/210940599061331968

#g8m National Day of Blogger Silence — This Friday http://t.co/IyoF9faS #tcot #iamthemob #teaparty

— NoisyRoom (@terresamonroe) June 8, 2012

https://twitter.com/ericjodom/status/211066493599891456

TOM: NATIONAL DAY OF BLOGGER SILENCE http://t.co/jqxff9K8 #tcot

— I came; I saw; I got over Macho Grande (@smitty_one_each) June 8, 2012

When I'm silent, I'm strong. It means I'm busy working. And I assure you, I am anything but weak. Count on it. Always. http://t.co/a5JOFcJ8

— Mandy Nagy (@Liberty_Chick) June 8, 2012