Many folks are beginning to realize what we supporters of President Donald Trump have understood for some time now, voicing your opinion, especially if it goes against the views of the vocal minority can be dangerous. Just ask 82-year-old Air Force vet Charles Chase of Fall River, who was knocked to the ground and assaulted by a young punk simply for holding a Trump re-election sign at the airport rotary.

Lately, it seems as though more and more people are afraid to speak freely for fear of being shouted down, fired, boycotted – or worse, beaten and even killed.

The radical left, with the help of established politicians and the media, has launched an all-out assault on your right to free speech. You are racist, homophobic, or xenophobic if you dare disagree. You are subject to ridicule, harassment, and even banishment if you don't follow the script.

These radicals are attempting to shame you into abandoning your history. They want you to kneel before them and apologize for who you are. They use guilt and fear to silence you. They vilify dissenters and target businesses that don't support their radical agenda. They are attacking authority and defunding police. This is the vocal minority and they are winning because few are willing to fight back.

Freedom isn't free and it is not everlasting. If you are unwilling to defend your freedoms, they will dissolve. President Ronald Reagan put it this way: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

Freedom must be cherished and defended from the tyrants who would take it away from you. First, they take your speech and then your independence. You must be willing to defend your freedom to speak your mind and to dissent or you will lose those rights forever.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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