Some wise person (I forget who) once said that the First Amendment protects unpopular opinions. And that’s because popular opinions need no protection.
Posted on 04/13/2026 2:52:37 PM PDT by lowbridge
They don’t call it censorship anymore.
They call it protection.
Protection for communities. Protection for organizations. Protection from “threats.” The language is softer now, more strategic, designed to pass scrutiny without triggering it. But behind California’s AB 2624, the intent is harder to ignore: if you document the wrong thing, in the wrong place, involving the wrong people, the state may decide you shouldn’t be allowed to show it at all.
And this time, they’re not going after institutions.
They’re going after the individuals who don’t need one.
In Sacramento, that effort now has a bill number.
AB 2624.
According to Carl DeMaio, it also has a far more revealing name: the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.” The label may sound provocative, but it captures the underlying shift this legislation represents, a direct challenge to the rise of independent, citizen-led investigative reporting.
Because journalists like Nick Shirley don’t operate within traditional systems. They don’t rely on institutional access or editorial gatekeeping. They show up, film what’s happening in real time, and publish it directly to the public. No filters. No delays. No permission.
That model has proven effective precisely because it bypasses control.
And now, Sacramento appears ready to regulate it.
Authored by Mia Bonta, AB 2624 is being framed as a necessary measure to protect organizations that serve immigrant communities from harassment and threats. On the surface, that framing is politically difficult to oppose. But the bill’s actual language extends far beyond its stated purpose.
During a recent Assembly committee hearing, DeMaio confronted Bonta over provisions that would allow individuals affiliated with certain organizations to demand the removal of video recordings, even if those recordings were taken in public spaces.
That distinction is not minor.
It is foundational.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecurrentreport.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Good luck with that. The 1A didn’t say “free press” is only for CNN-like organizations. Any citizen can hold government accountable. This is straight-up what fascists do.
The term "the press" to refer to journalists didn't begin until the 1920s.
-PJ
The California Attorney General's wife is authoring this unconstitutional bill?
-PJ
Navigator to pilot: We are over the target.
To protect “immigrant communities?” You could probably toss in the 14th s well.
Patriots, Call Congress
US Capitol switchboard
(202) 224-3121.
Call the White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
TTY/TTD Comments: 202-456-6213
Send a letter to the White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Message: Effective Journalists like Nick Shirley don’t operate within traditional systems. They don’t rely on editorial gatekeeping. They film what’s happening, and publish it directly to the public. No filters. No delays. No permission-——effective precisely because it bypasses control.
And now, Sacramento appears ready to regulate it. Authored by black Democrat Mia Bonta, “AB 2624” is being framed as a necessary measure to “protect” organizations that serve immigrant communities from “harassment and threats.” Bonta’s actual language extends far beyond its stated purpose.
Bonta was confronted over provisions that would allow individuals affiliated with certain organizations to demand the removal of video recordings, even if those recordings were taken in public spaces. That distinction is not minor. It is foundational.
Kill Bonta’s bill now.
Some apparel entrepreneur is going to have a field day with a plethora of products that all have:
I Am Nick Shirley
I am sure they will pass it and hold a big party.
Will not survive constitutional challenge (assuming anyone has enough money to challenge it)
Every single person who votes for this should be removed from office.
The first step toward requiring a license to be a journalist.
Right along with the first steps being undertaken to need a license to use the internet, or in some cases computers in general.
The censorship is coming, folks. Rapidly so.
The bill is not directed at your average joe. It is only directed against fascists, racists and other enemies of the people. So, it should pass constitutional muster.
individuals affiliated with certain organizations to demand the removal of video recordings, even if those recordings were taken in public spaces.
= = =
Erase all my Liscence Plate reader and all my speed camera stuff.
The “press” referred to single sheet, hand fed presses which required a screw mechanism to actually “press” the ink on the paper. It doesn’t refer to high speed fully automatic “street sweeper” printing presses or magical radio waves and internets. < /gun control logic applied to the first amendment>
Every single person who votes for this should be hanged from a freeway overpass.
Fixed it...
Some wise person (I forget who) once said that the First Amendment protects unpopular opinions. And that’s because popular opinions need no protection.
-PJ
I’m surprised they haven’t killed Nick Shirley yet.
Very dangerous.
News today comes from everywhere and is distributed in almost anyway imaginable.
The receiver of the news also must be better at deciding what to accept.
Such a law threatens a foundation of our freedoms.
Easy overturn by SCOTUS if they pass it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.