I guess you forgot how many HNers urged everyone to boycott Microsoft, Oracle and Amazon and to quit those companies when it was revealed they wanted to get contracts with the US military.

Just like now KickStarter is under similar pressure.

Should they not be able to use their free speech to advocate for that?

And others are just pointing out that this isn't a grass-roots movement of hurt or concerned individuals and actually is the same manipulative media outlets that have blown everything out of proportion for years, hoping to create a backlash.

Is that not permitted under free speech?

To some degree, no. As these media outlets collaborate with government, as the twitter files are showing, they lose their right to have their own voice.

I doubt Gawker has crossed the line, but it is there to be crossed.

That’s a novel interpretation of the First Amendment.