Federal Court: University of Cincinnati Free Speech Zone Violates First Amendment, ‘Cannot Stand’

[Valin]

FIRE:

6/12/12

 

CINCINNATI, June 12, 2012

In a ringing victory for student rights, a federal district court declared today that the University of Cincinnati's (UC's) tiny "free speech zone" violates the First Amendment. In his order enjoining enforcement of the challenged free speech zone policy, United States District Judge Timothy S. Black held that UC's free speech zone "violates the First Amendment and cannot stand." The suit was filed by Ohio's 1851 Center for Constitutional Law in cooperation with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).

 

"Once again, a federal court has been forced to remind a public university of its constitutional obligation to uphold the free speech rights of its students," FIRE President Greg Lukianoff said. "Ohioans should be pleased at the court's decision but outraged that a public college was willing to waste taxpayer money defending a policy that was manifestly unconstitutional from the very start."

 

Prior to today's court order, UC had required all "demonstrations, pickets, and rallies" to be held in a "Free Speech Area" that comprises just 0.1% of the university's 137-acre West Campus. University policy further required that all expressive activity in the free speech zone be registered with the university a full ten working days in advance, threatening that "[a]nyone violating this policy may be charged with trespassing."

 

(Snip)

 

 

Free Speech 1 PC 0