Republicans love to talk about free speech until they are the ones being criticized. Governor Jeff Landry’s involvement in the suspension of an LSU law professor, the resignation of another under mounting pressure, and the removal of Davante Lewis from the Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) prove that conservative free speech advocacy is nothing more than a hollow slogan. It is not about principle; it is about power.
When LSU professor Robert Mann, a longtime critic of Louisiana’s Republican leadership, found himself in the crosshairs of Landry’s administration, the writing was on the wall. Though Mann officially resigned, it was clear that mounting political pressure from the governor’s office and LSU leadership played a significant role in his departure. His exit was not simply a personal decision—it was the result of a state government that increasingly punishes those who dare to challenge its authority.
Then, when LSU law professor Ken Levy criticized Governor Landry during a classroom lecture, he was swiftly suspended from teaching. Levy’s remarks, which included strong language against the governor, were made in the context of discussing political discourse and academic freedom. Despite LSU’s swift punitive action, a state judge later ordered the university to reinstate Levy, highlighting the precarious state of free expression in Louisiana’s academic institutions. The case underscored a disturbing reality: those who challenge the governor’s narrative risk their careers.
Just weeks later, Davante Lewis—an outspoken progressive regulator and the only openly LGBTQ+ member of the PSC—was removed from his role as vice chairman. His offense? Calling Governor Landry an “a-hole” on social media in response to a transphobic post by the governor. The PSC’s decision to oust Lewis, led by its Republican majority, sends a chilling message: dissent, especially from marginalized voices, will not be tolerated.
The irony here is staggering. The same Republicans who endlessly bemoan “cancel culture” and claim that conservatives are being silenced by liberal institutions are now using the force of government to punish speech they don’t like. This is not about upholding free expression; it is about controlling it.
But the judiciary has historically upheld First Amendment protections for public employees across party lines. In cases like Elrod v. Burns (1976) and Rankin v. McPherson (1987), Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices ruled that public employees cannot be fired for their political views. In Elrod—Justice William Brennan—appointed by Republican President Eisenhower—delivered the majority opinion, striking down political firings. In Rankin, Republican-appointed Justice Lewis Powell joined the ruling in favor of a public employee’s free speech rights. These rulings demonstrate that protecting free expression is not a partisan issue—it is a fundamental American principle.
Meanwhile, Republican politicians have been given free rein to spew vile rhetoric that marginalizes communities, emboldens extremists, and incites real harm—all without consequence. From Governor Landry’s attacks on transgender individuals to other GOP leaders’ inflammatory remarks, right-wing figures have normalized dehumanizing language while crying victim whenever they face even mild accountability.
Landry himself has never hesitated to use his platform to stoke division. He has demonized transgender people, dismissed concerns about racial injustice, and embraced conspiracy theories all without fear of losing his job. But when a professor critiques state leadership? That’s an offense so grave it demands suspension or resignation under pressure. When a progressive official calls out bigotry? That’s grounds for removal.
This is not governance; this is authoritarianism. Free speech means nothing if only those in power get to define its boundaries. The Republican Party’s selective outrage over speech is nothing more than a tool to consolidate power protecting their own while punishing their critics.
If Republicans truly believed in free expression, they would welcome debate, not suppress it. But their actions make it clear: They don’t want freedom. They want obedience.
Fortunately, our judicial system has historically resisted this kind of political overreach. Republican and Democratic judges alike have affirmed that public employees should not fear termination for expressing their views. If history is any guide, the courts will continue to stand as a crucial check against government officials who believe free speech is only for the powerful.
It’s time for Louisiana, and the country, to recognize the danger of this hypocrisy. Because when speech is only free for the powerful, democracy itself is at risk.
