Kudos to my Editorial Board colleague Lynn Wenzel for writing her June 7 Other Voices piece defending Kathy Griffin's First Amendment rights.

I despise Griffin's brand of humor. It was disrespectful to our president and it was a cruel thing to do to his family. That Griffin is now playing the victim after being so vicious is even more disgusting. But that doesn't mean she doesn't have the right to be offensive.

The First Amendment isn't in place to protect "nice" speech but speech that some of us find offensive. Lynn and I disagree on most political subject matter but not on this one.

Protecting free speech is something we should all passionately support regardless of our political philosophy. You don't get to complain about conservative speakers being banned from college campuses then turn about and try to do the same thing to an obnoxious comedian. That's called hypocrisy.

It deeply saddens me that there is a market for Griffin's malicious humor in our community, but that doesn't give me the right to censor it.

Rachel Helm

Nevada County

More here:

Rachel Helm: Right on, on First Amendment rights - The Union of Grass Valley