Category Archives: Free Speech

The U.S. National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have threatened legal action to block the sale of T-shirts that ridicule these two powerful government agencies. But the T-shirt designer says NSA and DHS are the ones breaking the law by assaulting free speech, a pillar of democratic society.

A judge may decide who is right.

One T-shirt calls the NSA the only part of the government that actually listens, a joke that plays on the NSAs controversial, and critics say overzealous, monitoring of communications worldwide. Americans tend to laugh out loud when they see the message.

Another shirt parodies the DHS logo, rewritten as the Department of Homeland Stupidity.

Agency officials have sent stern letters to the printer who makes and distributes these designs, demanding an immediate halt, according to T-shirt designer Dan McCall. He says the letters cite federal laws banning unauthorized use or defacement of official logos.

McCall says the demand violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of free speech. We are fighting for some clarity in the law, but also to reaffirm the fact that criticism, in this case parody of our government, is completely allowed and certainly isn't criminal," said McCall.

A lawyer from Public Citizen, an advocacy group, is defending the T-shirt designer. Attorney Paul Levy says the messages on the T-shirts are satire, and that's part of the robust debate over the role and conduct of government.

I think it's clear that the designs that McCall is purveying are plainly protected political speech," said Levy.

Law Professor Tim Zick, at the College of William and Mary, says free speech is fundamental to democracy. He spoke to VOA via Skype.

We have a First Amendment [to the Constitution] that protects freedom of speech, and it has been long interpreted to protect criticism of government. Again, at its core, is the belief that citizens are better off in a self-governing society being able to discuss matters of public import among themselves," said Zick.

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NSA Squabbles With T-shirt Maker Over Free Speech

CBS News: AFDI Free Speech Lawsuit Against Boston Transit
Last week, the Boston Transit Authority restored vicious anti-Israel ads that had been removed. They were taken down because of the fallacious libel they adv...

By: Pamela Geller

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CBS News: AFDI Free Speech Lawsuit Against Boston Transit - Video

Tariq Ramadan, Doha Debate Education pointless without free speech 4 4

By: Incre vable

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Tariq Ramadan, Doha Debate Education pointless without free speech 4 4 - Video

Tariq Ramadan, Doha Debate Education pointless without free speech 2 4

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Segment from Free Speech TV: The Most Extreme Congress
In this segment on Free Speech TV #39;s "Ring of Fire" program, Howard L. Nations, a nationally renowned trial lawyer, discusses Congress #39;s low approval rating a...

By: HowardNations

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Segment from Free Speech TV: The Most Extreme Congress - Video

By Adam Ondo Published on November 07, 2013 8:25 AM Op-Eds, Opinions

Last week, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly went to Brown University to give a lecture on Proactive Policing in Americas Biggest City. He was met by more than 100 students and community activists who disrupted the meeting to the point that it had to be canceled. This type of behavior is in direct contradiction to the idea of free speech that is supposed to be found on college campuses. More importantly, this behavior is also illegal. Upset by the surveillance of Muslims and of the use of stop-and-frisk practices by the NYPD, the protestors conspired to prevent Commissioner Kelly from exercising his right to free speech and also prevented open-minded audience members from hearing what he had to say. Im not going to debate whether or not the protestors grievances were justified, as I would rather elucidate the multiple legal implications of their actions. When Brown officials asked protesters to allow Kelly to speak and reserve their comments until a question-and-answer session, the protestors refused. Brown student and protest organizer Jenny Li called this disobedience a powerful demonstration of free speech. This couldnt be further from the truth, as shouting down someone else is not a legitimate use of free speech. Ms. Li seemed to acknowledge this, apparently without realizing she was contradicting herself, when she said about the administrations decision to continue the lecture, We decided to cancel [the lecture] for them. Brown University President Christina Paxson was right in saying, The conduct of disruptive members of the audience is indefensible and an affront both to civil democratic society and to the universitys core values. Brown isnt the first university to be faced with this problem, though. A similar incident occurred at UC-Irvine in 2010, resulting in 10 students being convicted of conspiring to disturb and disrupt a meeting and speech, which is a misdemeanor in California under Penal Code 403. Rhode Island has a similar law that could be applied in the Brown case, as well as a lesser charge of disorderly conduct. At one point in the protest, a relatively large protestor acted aggressively and in a threatening manner toward a female administrator when asked to please stop shouting. This threatening and tumultuous behavior could warrant charging him with disorderly conduct pursuant to Rhode Island Penal Code 11-45-1. However, the sentence for this crime is not to exceed six months imprisonment, so it may send a better message to hit him, and every other disruptive protestor, with the charge of disrupting the meeting. Technically, the charge would be disturbance of public assemblies generally ( 11-11-1). This charge carries with it a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment. The egregious nature of the protestors actions warrant a harsher penalty in my opinion, so this is the path I would pursue. Furthermore, if one watches the video of the ordeal, it is obvious that the disruptions were planned as a group and well in advance, with numerous protestors reading scripted material in a predetermined order. The routine was choreographed by the protest organizers, one of whom is known to be the aforementioned Ms. Li. Since every person who shall conspire with another to commit an offense punishable under the laws of this state shall be subject to the same fine and imprisonment, many of the protestors not directly guilty of the crimes listed above could be charged with conspiring to disturb a public assembly, thus earning them the same sentence of one year imprisonment ( 11-1-6). As I have shown, there are ways to deal with criminal dissident elements in both the student body and the community, so why hasnt the District Attorney in Providence charged anyone yet? Radicals cannot be allowed to shutdown meetings, discussions and other forums promoting dialogue merely because they are opposed to a certain policy, person, or country. Free speech is not allowed to flourish in this type of environment, where anarchists terrorize authority figures trying to ensure respectful dialogue. It would be a shame if these criminals went unpunished for their actions. Ondo is a member of the class of 2014.

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Overzealous protesters threaten the right of free speech

T-Shirt Artist Takes NSA To Court For Violating Free Speech
Air Date: Nov. 1st, 2013 http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/11/01/sauk-rapids-graphic-artist-challenges-national-security-agency/ This video may contain copyrighted material. Such material...

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T-Shirt Artist Takes NSA To Court For Violating Free Speech - Video

FOURTH Free Thinking Film Festival-Collision! Free Speech and Religion-Panel 3
FOURTH Free Thinking Film Festival-Collision! Free Speech and Religion-Panel 3.

By: VideoManOttawa

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FOURTH Free Thinking Film Festival-Collision! Free Speech and Religion-Panel 3 - Video

FOURTH Free Thinking Film Festival-Collision! Free Speech and Religion-Panel 1
FOURTH Free Thinking Film Festival-Collision! Free Speech and Religion-Panel 1.

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Free Speech PSA

By: The Film Squad

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Free Speech PSA - Video