Is The ACLU Retreating On Free Speech? The Controversy and Debate
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-partisan civil rights organization, has recently been criticized for allegedly retreating from their stance on free expression, as a result of a leaked […]
Wisconsin High Court Sides With Professor In Academic Freedom Case
On July 6, 2018, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Marquette University breached its contract with a former professor after he lost his job over a critical blog post in […]
Georgia Court Rules Teacher Cannot Challenge Suspension Over Facebook Comments
June 11, 2018: Tifton Teacher Eyeing Supreme Court According to her attorney, Kelly Tucker plans to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her case. June 4, 2018: Georgia Supreme […]
What is the State of Academic Freedom As More Professors Face Increasing Backlash?
An NPR report finds that “across the country, in the past year and a half, at least 250 university professors…have been targeted via online campaigns because of their research, their […]
Louisiana Parish Council Passes Bill to Protect Flag From Desecration
The Iberville Parish Council without debate and against the American Civil Liberties Union’s recommendation passed an ordinance “to prohibit flag desecration of (the) American Flag, Louisiana Flag and Iberville Parish Flag.” Council […]
ESPN Anchor Suspended for Repeated Controversial Tweets
When is a tweet a fireable offense? ESPN anchor Jemele Hill has been posting comments that have come under increasing scrutiny. Under Connecticut law, ESPN is bound by First Amendment principles of freedom of speech. The network's recent suspension of Hill for her latest tweets may be an employer stating an employee violated social media guidelines or an action that can be challenged in court.
College Students: We ‘Sort Of’ Support First Amendment
In a recent Brookings survey of current undergraduate students at U.S. four-year colleges and universities, researchers found that "Freedom of expression is deeply imperiled on U.S. campuses." A lack of understanding of First Amendment protections imperils the future of free speech. Is it to late to fix the underlying misconceptions?
Hate Speech: Freedom to Express the “Thought That We Hate”
Is offensive speech, and especially hate speech, protected by the First Amendment? Some protesters use profane and scurrilous language to make their point. Others like the neo-Nazis and other white […]