Category Archives: Free Speech

EUGENE, Ore. The Lane County Board of Commissioners voted to close Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza Wednesday, effective immediately.

This comes after protesters with the group SLEEPS set up tents at the plaza to protest the lack of housing for the homeless.

The protesters moved out after the Boards meeting.

Health concerns were among the biggest issues for the Board. The closure enables crews to clean up the area. But protesters say theyve cleaned up their act.

What Ive invited people to do is come see, says demonstrator Angie Bartow. Even to the county commissioners, I would ask that they would come in and see whats going on, not just kind of take everyone elses word for it.

Lane Countys public health officer did tour the site recently and declared it a public health risk. Police reports also reveal that the area has recently seen a 20-percent increase in serious crime, including drug overdoses and sex abuse.

The last time the county cleared out the plaza was when it was sued and the judge ultimately ruled in favor of the protesters. Thats why, this time around, the county is making sure that this is a public process. Commissioners say theyll also look at updating the county code with details on how the Free Speech Plaza can be used. The Board will take up the issue at another meeting in a couple of weeks.

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Protesters Leave Free Speech Plaza

A federal appeals-court ruling has found that a Washington State University professor who circulated a controversial proposal to revamp the schools communications department was protected by the First Amendment.

A lawyer for the American Association of University Professors, which supported the former WSU professor in a brief, called it a significant ruling protecting the academic freedom of professors at public institutions.

Aaron Nisenson, senior counsel for AAUP, said the degree of free-speech protection afforded to university professors was thrown in doubt by a 2006 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Garcetti v. Ceballos, which restricted the free speech of public employees.

The question in the courts has been, When is speech considered academic speech, that is protected? Nisenson said. This was a significant case in that it further clarified when that speech is protected.

The case involves David Demers, a former WSU communications professor, who distributed a two-page pamphlet in 2007 that outlined a plan to improve WSUs Edward R. Murrow School of Communication. At the time, the future of the school was being debated.

Later, Demers who now teaches at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University sued WSU in U.S. District Court, claiming administrators retaliated against him, in part by giving him negative performance reviews.

The district court said that Demers writings were distributed as part of his official duties and therefore were not protected under the First Amendment. That decision drew on the 2006 Supreme Court ruling which held that public employees acting or speaking in their official capacity were not protected by the First Amendment, Nisenson said.

Demers appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which on Wednesday reversed some parts of the ruling.

In a statement he distributed by email, Demers called it a great victory for those who cherish academic freedom, free-speech ideals and shared governance.

Demers said professors should have the freedom to criticize administrators and their policies, and said the decision bolsters the idea that free-speech protection for professors extends beyond their academic research programs and the classroom. It covers our service role, too.

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Court rules for free speech in former WSU professor’s lawsuit

Tariq Ramadan, Doha Debate Education pointless without free speech 3 4

By: Tariq Ramadan

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Tariq Ramadan, Doha Debate Education pointless without free speech 3 4 - Video

Citizens Ban Free Speech
Stay in the know - Follow Alex on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealAlexJones #39;Like #39; Alex on FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/AlexanderEme... http://www.in...

By: Alex M.

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Citizens Ban Free Speech - Video

Free Speech Violations and Re-Education Programs at Florida Univ.
Intimidation of Palestine solidarity activists increasing on college campuses across the US.

By: FNN News English

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Free Speech Violations and Re-Education Programs at Florida Univ. - Video

Free Speech Violations and Re-Education Programs at Florida University
Intimidation of Palestine solidarity activists increasing on US college campuses.

By: TheRealNews

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Free Speech Violations and Re-Education Programs at Florida University - Video

Mediatwits #92: Journalism, Free Speech Under Attack in the Surveillance State
How can journalists fight the war on journalism, both in the U.S. and abroad? As governments hunt down whistleblowers, leakers and journalists alike, many re...

By: PBS MediaShift

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Mediatwits #92: Journalism, Free Speech Under Attack in the Surveillance State - Video

FREE Speech Recognition NO Dragon Diction Needed NO Survey 2013 Free built in
Most people today like to speak instead of type. Watch this video and save money. Free Talk to Text Program for you . No hack tools needed no surveys to sign...

By: James J Zito III

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FREE Speech Recognition NO Dragon Diction Needed NO Survey 2013 Free built in - Video

Alex Macgillivray, Twitter's top lawyer who pushed back against government and law enforcement demands and helped stake out the company's free-speech stance, is stepping down. (Alastair Grant / Associated Press)

August 30, 2013, 11:24 a.m.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Alex Macgillivray, Twitters top lawyer who pushed back against government and law enforcement demands and helped stake out the companys stance as the free speech wing of the free speech party, is stepping down.

He made the announcement in a blog post on Friday. And on Twitter, of course: "Passing the torch. I care deeply about Twitter and our users, will continue to help while exploring other passions"

Vijaya Gadde, who has handled Twitters corporate and international legal work, will take over as general counsel. Macgillivray said he would continue to work as an advisor to Twitter.

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I continue to care deeply about Twitter, the folks who work at Twitter and our tremendous users, so Ill remain close to all three, Macgillivray said in a blog post.

There was an immediate outpouring on Twitter from Macgillivrays admirers who said they were grateful for his efforts to protect Twitter users rights and his advocacy of digital civil liberties.

Tweeted Silicon Valley investor Hunter Walk: "@amac is one of the best I've seen. Not just 'lawyer w good soul' but rather a good soul who happens to practice law."

Its unclear if Twitter will maintain that same level of commitment to free speech rights after Macgillivray, known on Twitter as @amac, leaves the company. As Twitter expands around the world and prepares for a hotly anticipated initial public stock offering, that commitment has become tougher to maintain.

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Twitter's legal champion of free speech steps down

Free Speech the Movement-Cncluder

By: Mskhawthorne

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Free Speech the Movement-Cncluder - Video