Absolutely Outrageous

I promised to keep you posted on the tension between the Trump Administration and the United Kingdom due to the UK’s lack of free speech.  The UK convicted a peaceful grandmother outside an abortion center for carrying a sign reading “Here to talk if you want.”  A judge fined her about twenty-six thousand dollars because her actions could have a “detrimental effect” on abortion customers or the industry.  Mind you, there wasn’t any evidence she actually had any detrimental effect.  Only it could have.  The Trump administration responded in part, “Absolutely outrageous.  This is precisely why the US State Department has raised concerns about freedom of expression in the UK.”  Still no final word if this draconian approach to free speech will derail efforts to settle a free trade deal.