Federal Judge Throws Out Charges Against White Supremacist Citing Free Speech Violations
A federal judge in Los Angeles threw out charges against three alleged white supremacists, saying that the First Amendment protected their speech. Robert Rundo, Robert Boman, and Aaron Eason, members of the Rise Above Movement (RAM), had been charged with conspiracy to commit rioting under the Anti Riot Act of 1968. The trio allegedly used the Internet to coordinate combat training, travel to protests, and attacks on protestors at three gatherings in California. District Court Judge Carmac J. Carney ruled that the federal Anti Riot Act, which was enacted during the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War, was too broad in regulating free speech.
San Francisco Police Chief Apologizes For Raid On Journalist’s Home and Office
Police raided the home and office of a San Francisco freelance videographer in connection with an investigation over a leaked police report. The freelancer, Bryan Carmody, had received the leaked report which included salacious details of the events surrounding the sudden death of San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi. First Amendment advocates contend that the search violates California Shield Law.
Federal Appeals Court Blocks San Francisco Requirement For Health Warning On Soda Ads
The ordinance required advertisements for sugary drinks to include a health warning that occupied 20% of the ad.
Deja Vu: LA Judge Challenged On Unconstitutional Court Order For Second Time This Month
For the second time this month, Superior Court Judge Gustavo N. Sztraicher rescinded a court order after he was challenged by the LA Times on two separate cases. Last week, […]
SCOTUS Rules Against California Law In Free Speech Case
The Supreme Court sided with anti-abortion crisis centers and ruled that a California law requiring the centers to advertise state-funded services violated the facilities’ right to free speech. NIFLA v. […]
Journalist Protection Act Introduced in Congress
February 7, 2018: Journalists Need Legislated Protection Says House Rep With attacks both verbal and physical against journalists on the rise (see our deep dive into increasing threats against the […]
Did San Francisco Silence Hate Speech or Trample Freedom of Speech?
When Joey Gibson, head of Patriot Prayer, applied to hold a rally in San Francisco in an area designated by the National Park Service for "First Amendment activities," he thought he had the Constitution on his side. However, fearing a repeat of what happened in the deadly Charlottesville confrontations, San Francisco officials moved to protect the city from violence in what Gibson now says stifled his freedom of speech.