News & Opinion

Obama administration denies spying on Muslim-Americans based on First Amendment activities

Documents from Edward Snowden show that Muslim- American activists and leaders were among those targeted by Nation Security Agency surveillance. Among those spied upon was Nihad Awad, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent Muslim rights organization. (The Intercept, July 9, 2014, by Glenn Greenwald and Murtaza Hussain) A number of civil rights organizations condemned the spying as reminiscent of spying on civil rights leaders in the 60s and 70s.

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New federal law protects intelligence agency whistleblowers

A new law authorizing intelligence spending includes protections for whistleblowers. The measure will enable intelligence agency employees to report problems within their agencies rather then through the media. (Jurist, July 8, 2014, by Taylor Gillan) Under the law, intelligence workers will enjoy important protections including the extension of free speech rights to those holding security clearances, rights to appeal, and monetary damages if an appeal board finds illegal whistleblower retaliation.  (Project on Government Oversight, June

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Arizona church gets Supreme Court hearing on restrictive ad sign ordinance

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear an appeal by a church that claims a Gilbert, Arizona  sign ordinance violated its free speech rights. The church claimed a local law discriminated on the basis of content by restricting the size of its ads and relegating them to less prominent sites. (MSN News, July 1, 2014, by Reuters reporter Lawrence Hurley) Governments are rarely allowed to restrict speech on the basis of content but there are some

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Free Speech: U.S. Supreme Court rules against mandatory fees for Illinois home health-care workers

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that home health-care employees did not have to pay dues to a union that sought higher wages and benefits for its members. In writing for the majority in the 5-4 ruling, Justice Samuel Alito held that mandatory union dues under Illinois law were a violation of free speech, “…except perhaps in the rarest of circumstances, no person in this country may be compelled to subsidize speech by a third party

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Reactions to Supreme Court ruling on Massachusetts abortion clinic buffer zone

A Star Tribune editorial argued that the U.S. Supreme Court struck the right balance in protecting citizens at abortion clinics while allowing free speech for those seeking to discourage abortions. The Court ruled that a 35-foot zone was too limiting to protesters but ruled on narrow grounds allowing states to enact buffer zone laws that still allow free speech but also protect citizens from harassment. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 29, 2014, by the Editorial Board)

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