A freelance cartoonist covering Occupy Oakland with a press pass was arrested and held 14 hours charged with failing to disperse and obstructing. -db From KGO-TV News, November 3, 2011, by Ama Daetz. Full story
A newspaper reporter and demonstrators in the Occupy Nashville protests are suing in federal court claiming violations of the First Amendment right after they were arrested at a public plaza near the state Capitol building. After the protests began on October 7, Nashville passed two laws to prevent groups from assembling at what is called “The Plaza,” a well-established public forum. -db From the Courthouse News Service, November 3, 2011, by Philip A. Janquart. Full
A rally over budget cuts held in a tiny free speech patio at Southwestern College spilled out onto the larger campus, bringing student and faculty protesters into a confrontation with police and garnering reprimands for three faculty members. Some question whether the school administration can under the Constitution make the vast majority of campus a non-public forum. -DB FIRE Foundation for Individual Rights in Education Opinion December 4, 2009 By Peter Bonilla A batch of articles
In a letter to the Southwestern College president, the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego urged him to repudiate his actions restricting a peaceful demonstration on campus to protest budget cuts. -DB ACLU San Diego and Imperial Counties Press Release November 9, 2009 Saying that a public college “must uphold the highest possible commitment to freedom of speech and exchange of ideas,” the ACLU sent a demand letter to Southwestern College’s president expressing serious
10News November 5, 2009 Southwestern College officials are investigation the actions of four professors currently on paid leave after a campus protest over budget cuts.The officials are concerned that the professors incited students to leave the free speech area and disregarded police instructions. -DB