Congressman Al Green (TX-09) denounced the threats and harassing phone calls that several members of Congress, including himself, have received since the passage of the health care reform bill.

          In a press conference held today, he issued the following statement:

“I stand for constitutionally protected free speech. However, just as I stand for constitutionally protected free speech, I condemn constitutionally unprotected criminal speech. Criminal speech has an added element of malice which may lead to physical harm and, as such, has no constitutionally protected place in public discourse.

          People of good will must condemn expressions of intent to harm regardless of:
• One’s party affiliation
• One’s gender
• One’s ethnicity or
• One’s religion

Criminal speech must be denounced and purveyors/peddlers of criminal speech must be prosecuted.

Dr. King reminded us that: “All that needs to happen for evil to prevail is that good men do nothing.””