The Pepperdine University administration decided not to exclude the artworks of Alessandra Guth from an exhibition because the works depicted nude bodies. Guth wanted to encourage discussion of sexuality, the human body and religion. (National Coalition Against Censorship, November 25, 2019)
The American Civil Liberties Union said an elementary school in Sacrament, California violated the First Amendment when a teacher censored student-produced posters on Black Lives Matter. The school district said the work was unacceptable because it did not focus on school issues. (KJRH Tulsa, November 23, 2019, by CNN Newsource)
University of North Caroline students clashed with Gary the Pit Preacher who they claim interfered with the production of a video intended to promote a key fundraising event. A student leader found her video unusable when the tape recorded Gary Birdsong’s homophobic slurs and racists remarks. Sydney Conway tried to get Birdsong to respect her space, but he refused and she got no help from the school authorities. (The Daily Tarheel, November 21, 2019, by Allie Kelly)
A man landed in Palm Beach County Jail when he wrote a letter to a judge using profanity to accuse a judge of incompetency. Because the letter was considered to be a court document, Derrick Jenkins may not enjoy First Amendment protections. (South Florida Sun Sentinel, November 16, 2019, by Marc Freeman)
Two activists were arrested in Stamford, Connecticut as they protested the city’s possible use of eminent domain. (Stamford Advocate, November 14, 2019, by Humberto J. Rocha and John Nickerson)
A federal district judge ruled that an atheist group may prevail in their First Amendment lawsuit against an Arkansas state senator who tried to ban them from his official Facebook and Twitter accounts. (Texarkana Gazette, October 2, 2019)
A sheriff cited a Sumner County, Tennessee man for displaying what they said was an obscene car sticker. The sticker shows two rifles with the letters U and C then gun control. The citation said the message spelled out the F word. Nicholas Ennis says his free speech rights were violated. (WZTV Local 2, September 27, 2019, by Kathleen Serie)
An Indiana school bus driver is suing his school district for violating his free speech rights after he was suspended for criticizing changes to bus service that would have forced some children to travel farther to school. (Dubois County Herald, September 26, 2019, by The Associated Press)