During a House hearing on government censorship, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vigorously defended himself against accusations of trafficking in racist and hateful online conspiracy theories.

Despite calls from outside groups to disinvite him due to recent antisemitic remarks, he testified before the Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.

The subcommittee is amplifying GOP claims that conservatives and others face unfair targeting by technology companies, which collaborate with the government to combat online disinformation.

Democrats, on the other hand, emphasized that while free speech is essential, it also comes with the responsibility not to spread misinformation, especially if it incites violence, the Associated Press reported.

In his opening remarks, Kennedy referenced his famous family’s legacy while denouncing the accusations of racism and antisemitism directed at him.

He labeled the situation as an attempt to censor a censorship hearing. As the son of Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, he grew animated while defending his social media posts, which cover topics such as race, vaccine safety, and other issues.

He firmly asserted that his posts were neither racist nor antisemitic and reaffirmed his family’s longstanding belief in the First Amendment’s right to free speech.

Kennedy stressed that the First Amendment wasn’t designed for easy speech but rather for protecting unpopular speech that may not be well-received by everyone.

Written by staff