Free Speech Roundup: Week of Apr. 29th, 2018

A summary of the top free speech related news and events from the past week. This week we have news on a lawsuit, college free speech report, and college events.

Freedom of speech is the right from which all other human rights follow because it allows people to address grievances and protest for their other rights. It is therefore of the utmost importance to protect the right to express oneself freely from those who seek to restrict it.

ACLU Challenges Ban On Public Transit Political Ads

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/septa-ban-on-political-ads-aclu-suit-cir-muslims-20180502.html
The ACLU is challenging in court the ban of political advertising by SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority). SEPTA, which is a government entity, currently prohibits any advertising that relates to political candidates or policies. The ban was put in place following anti-Muslim ads they were forced to run in 2014. The suit is being filed on behalf of the Center for Investigative Reporting which sought to run an ad highlighting racial discrimination in home loan access. Reggie Shuford of the ACLU argues, “Debate on public issues is the cornerstone of participatory democracy. No government entity, including SEPTA, should single it out for censorship.” SEPTA defended their policy, stating “SEPTA’s decision is consistent with its advertising policy, which is constitutionally sound and necessary to ensure that our vehicles and stations do not become forums for political debate and distract from our core mission of providing safe and reliable public transportation in an environment that is welcoming to customers and employees.”

Berkeley Releases Free Speech Report

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/03/berkeley-free-speech-report-conservative-speakers-516476
A University of California Berkeley commission released a new report with recommendations for free speech on campus. The commission, composed of faculty, students, and staff, placed an inordinate amount of blame for recent controversies on the conservative speakers and students who invited them. The report accuses controversial speakers met with violent protests such as Milo Yiannopoulis and Ann Coulter of a “coordinated campaign” to make the campus appear intolerant of conservatives. It questions their motivations for a real dialogue, suggesting their true goal is the “pursuit of wealth and fame through the instigation of anger, fear, and vengefulness in their hard-right constituency.” It also notes students feeling threatened by the large police presence made necessary by violent protestors. The report recommends creating new free speech zones, scrutinizing student organizations more closely, and offering “counter-programming” during controversial events.

College Reverses Course To Allow Pro-Palestine Event

https://www.thefire.org/city-college-of-new-york-reverses-cancellation-of-pro-palestine-event-after-pressure-from-legal-groups/
The City College of New York reversed its cancellation of a book event this week held by the Students for Justice in Palestine. The event featuring Israeli-American activist and author Miko Peled was originally scheduled for March 8th, but postponed to May 3rd. The CCNY administration then cancelled the event in April because it found Peled “particularly controversial” and proposed a postponement until the next semester. Palestine Legal and the Center for Constitutional Rights wrote a letter to the university chancellor warning that “there is longstanding legal precedent that a public college may not impede a student group’s right to expression because it is controversial.” CCNY finally relented last week and allowed the event to proceed.

Protestors Attempt To Shut Down Free Speech Event

http://tnhdigital.com/turning-point-faces-protesters-at-free-speech-event-p3402-174.htm
An event at the University of New Hampshire about free speech, social justice, and cultural appropriation led by Dave Rubin of the Rubin Report was interrupted by protestors. The protestors attempted to block entrance to the event and then shut it down via heckler’s veto. The event, hosted by Turning Point USA, had to be relocated due to safety and security concerns. Protestors interrupted Rubin throughout the event with chants, noises, and shouts about hate speech. This week, Rubin also participated in a discussion at the University of Illinois at Chicago with Yaron Brook about free speech and free markets, which can be watched here.

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Recent Free Speech Roundups:

Free Speech Roundup: Week of Apr. 22nd, 2018
Free Speech Roundup: Week of Apr. 15th, 2018
Free Speech Roundup: Week of Apr. 8th, 2018
Free Speech Roundup: Week of Apr. 1st, 2018
Free Speech Roundup: Week of Mar. 25th, 2018

Other Free Speech Posts:

Count Dankula Sentenced
UK Speech Police Offended Again
Lèse-majesté: Archaic Anti-Speech Law
California Bill Threatens Online Press and Speech
UK Parliament Report on Campus Free Speech
Thoughtcrime in the UK?
New Study Shows College Students Conflicted on Free Speech
Who is most supportive of free speech?
Campus Free Speech Zones
Hitchens on Free Speech - Must Watch

Free Speech Resources:

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
The American Civil Liberties Union
Notable 1st Amendment Cases – ALA
Milton’s Areopagitica – Modern English Translation
On Liberty by John Stuart Mill – Audiobook

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
~ First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States