Creative freedom defines American culture. We’re not forced to watch a particular movie, play, or television show, and so we should be especially hesitant to chill the creative expression of others. Censorship leads only to static thinking, less entertaining and informative content, and the repression of the creative mind.

Sadly, as my colleague Madeline Fry documents documents, four families are agitating against the upcoming movie, Joker. An origin story following Batman’s nemesis, the movie stars Joaquin Phoenix.