Free Speech Clause
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Free speech is the doctrine that allows a citizen to say nearly anything he or she wants about any topic.[Citation Needed]
The jury acquittal of John Peter Zenger (1735) in the colony of New York played an important early role in expanding freedom of press and free speech.
It is not a free speech violation to arrest a person for shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theatre when there is no fire.expand
Heckling is a gray area in the ethics of free speech. To a certain extent, interrupting a public speech with question or retorts is tolerated. On the other hand, using heckling as a tactic to stop the speaker is not an expression of free speech (on the heckler's part) as much as it is a violation of the speaker's free speech rights.