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profanity

Federal judge rules ‘whoop ass’ taunt not meet definition of harassment

donal brown April 17, 2012

When two military wives clashed with one saying she would ‘whoop ass’ and allegedly calling the other a “bitch,” the incident resulted in a criminal charge of harassment and ended up in federal court. The judge, though, ignored the First Amendment defense and ruled that “whoop ass” alone was not sufficient to cause harassment under the Colorado harassment law. -db From the First Amendment Center, April 16, 2012, by David L. Hudson Jr. Full story

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Bill in Arizona legislature would punish teachers for foul words

donal brown February 14, 2012

Republican state lawmakers in Arizona are proposing legislation requiring teachers to limit their words to comply with the Federal Communications Commission standards for on-air speech. Under the law a teacher could be fired after a third offense. From The Republic , February 12, 2012, by Alia Beard Rau. Full story

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Federal appeals court okays profanity in citizen’s petition to city

donal brown November 29, 2011

A city cannot reject a petition from a citizen just because the citizen peppers his appeal with profanities and insults ruled the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Colorado. The court rejected the contention that the petition lost its constitutional protection because it contained “fighting words.” -db From the First Amendment Center, November 18, 2011, by Douglas E. Lee. Full story

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Profanity not always protected by First Amendment

donal brown October 10, 2011

A suburban Chicago city recently rescinded a law against profanity in public places out of concern that the law may run afoul of the First Amendment, but says David L. Hudson Jr. of the First Amendment Center, the Constitution does not always protect profanity. The list of unprotected speech includes fighting words, true threats and incitement to violence or other unlawful acts. -db From a commentary for the First Amendment Center, October 6, 2011, by

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Professor censors profanity on student free speech wall

donal brown October 3, 2011

A Sam Houston State University professor removed an insult to President Barack Obama posted by a student on the student free speech wall. Incensed by the censorship, students reported the vandalism to the campus police. Rather than come to the aid of the student in support of the First Amendment, the police threatened students with a charge of disturbing the peace and required them to remove all profanity or take the wall down. -db From

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