News Sheet

Free Speech Has Come to This?

Written by Scott K. James

Heidi Ganahl’s Eric Trump fundraiser sells out after moving to an undisclosed Denver venue—dodging the threat of Soros-backed mobs and defending free speech.

Heidi Ganahl’s Rocky Mountain Voice shouldn’t have to turn its gala into a covert op just to hear Eric Trump speak—yet here we are, tiptoeing into an “undisclosed location” because a squad of Soros-funded agitators decided that free speech is only theirs to weaponize. Protesting’s a right—heck, we’ve staged plenty of our own— but there’s nothing grassroots about paid rent-a-mob theatrics designed to bully and intimidate. When left-wing operatives treat the public square like their personal battleground, the rest of us are left ducking headlines instead of debating ideas.

These aren’t passionate citizens; they’re political mercenaries who’ve turned dissent into a transactional business model, complete with payroll and marching orders. They’ll scream you down, harass your guests, and call it “democracy in action,” all while hiding behind the noble banner of “civil rights.” But when civic engagement means corralling people into back-alley venues, you know something’s gone off the rails—and fast.

It’s high time Colorado conservatives stop playing defense. If the radicals want to show up and shout, let them—under the same neon lights as the speakers they claim to “protect.” We need to reclaim real free speech, not cower in secret warehouses. Let every rally be open, every voice heard, and every protester held accountable for crossing the line from peaceful demonstrator to paid provocateur. That’s how you win the public square back—by refusing to let the fringe redefine our rights.

About the author

Scott K. James

A 4th generation Northern Colorado native, Scott K. James is a veteran broadcaster, professional communicator, and principled leader. Widely recognized for his thoughtful, common-sense approach to addressing issues that affect families, businesses, and communities, Scott, his wife, Julie, and son, Jack, call Johnstown, Colorado, home. A former mayor of Johnstown, James is a staunch defender of the Constitution and the rule of law, the free market, and the power of the individual. Scott has delighted in a lifetime of public service and continues that service as a Weld County Commissioner representing District 2.