Tracking the modern progress of the First Amendment
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Feb 18th, 2008
The Yale Daily News printed a criticism Thursday of the legal threats that have been leveled by the Yale Women’s Center against a university fraternity whose pledges posed for photos outside the center with signs that said “We Love Yale Sluts.”
Representatives with the women’s center said they felt threatened while trying to approach the building, […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Feb 15th, 2008
Flemming Rose, culture editor of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, wrote an interesting op-ed in this morning’s Washington Post about the world’s growing intolerance of anti-religious views. He should know; he was behind the decision to publish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in fall 2005, which resulted in massive rioting and more than 100 deaths, in […]
Posted in Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech on Feb 10th, 2008
A group of 11 protesters will get another day in court Monday as they move forward with a civil lawsuit arising from arrests at a gay pride rally in 2004.
Members of the Christian organization Repent America were taken into custody at the Philadelphia event after using bullhorns to quote Bible verses to hundreds of rally […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Feb 9th, 2008
Anyone who has spent time on an Internet message board has met one: That irritating guy who spouts defamatory nonsense on every subject from partisan politics to racist propaganda—a “troll,” as he is commonly known—is a staple of online discourse.
He may be obnoxious, but now his right to play virtual tough-guy is legally protected. A […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Feb 9th, 2008
Another victory this week for outrageousness in advertising: the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a controversial ad that ran in the Sun-Times last fall did not meet standards for defamation and should be protected under the First Amendment.
The ad, paid for by the Chicago clothing retailer Cosmo’s Designer Direct, appears to contain veiled references […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Feb 2nd, 2008
A federal judge has exonerated five anti-war protesters who were ticketed for encouraging passing motorists to “honk for peace.” The protesters, and one driver who had honked in support, had been cited for disturbing the peace (ironic, no?).
The ACLU’s Michigan office intervened in April, suing the city of Ferndale for violating the group’s First Amendment […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Jan 30th, 2008
A federal judge said Tuesday that an acquitted suspect in a terror plot to destroy the Sears Tower will now be allowed to speak freely about the government’s attempts to deport him.
Haiti citizen and U.S. legal resident Lyglenson Lemorin had been accused of being a member of the Liberty City Seven group charged with planning […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Jan 27th, 2008
Massachusetts anti-abortion protesters are contesting a state law requiring them to stay at least 35 feet away from the entrances of clinics where abortions are performed.
The protesters, who filed suit January 18, say the law violates their First Amendment rights of free speech and free assembly.
Proponents of the bill, including the state’s Planned Parenthood offices, […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Jan 27th, 2008
With the primary season in full swing, presidential candidates have more to worry about than attacks from their opponents. Independent political critics have begun to take public stances (pro and con) on the issues, and they are not shy about voicing their opinions.
There are many labels for these organizations: advocacy groups, citizens groups, 527 nonprofits […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech, Speech in Education on Jan 27th, 2008
Another chapter unfolded this week in the debate on what college professors should be permitted say to students, as a Brandeis University professor challenged the university’s decision to discipline him for making a reference to a derogatory term.
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education issued a statement Wednesday calling for increased media attention to the […]
RSS Feed