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Want to know what is on our minds? Find blog posts written here, by the City Club staff, members, and partners. Every week you can find a new edition of #FreeSpeech in the News — a collection of related stories, commentary, and opinions on free speech in the 21st century that’s making the news. You’ll also find takes on current events, past forums, and issues surrounding Northeast Ohio. Read on for all things City Club.

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Monday, December 05, 2016

#FreeSpeech in the News: Dec. 5, 2016

As the Citadel of Free Speech here in Cleveland, we work to protect and promote the basis of our democracy by sharing related stories, commentary, and opinions on free speech in the 21st century. Here's what's making the news - and what you should know about - this week.

“The main function of the bill is to remove ‘gag clauses,’ which give businesses the power to punish or silence those who honestly criticize their products or services online.”

Obama Will Sign ‘Yelp” Law Revolutionizing Online Free Speech, The Daily Caller

“The government cannot force an individual to be an ‘instrument for fostering public adherence to an ideological point of view he finds unacceptable.”

Artist’s Free Speech Rights at Stake in Washington Florist Case, The Daily Signal

“On the proposed amendment against free speech, both  Janda and Vit agree it is unlikely to pass when lawmakers vote on it later this month… Nor does it mean that free speech, and particularly a free press, is safe in the Czech Republic.”

The Czech Republic May Dodge a Bullet to Free Speech This Year. But Will It in 2017?, Foreign Policy

“The American right can look to the deformed democracies of Hungary, Poland, Turkey, the Philippines and Russia for encouragement. Most strikingly, they can look to Britain, where plutocratic censorship has the potential to go further than anywhere else in the west.”

How our laws inspired Trump’s attack on free speech, The Guardian

“For a group claiming to be a watchdog to higher education, the organization is training students from high school in how to not engage their education critically, but to combat anything or anyone that does not promote or teach with a conservative viewpoint.”

I’m on the ‘professor watchlist.’ It’s a ploy to undermine free speech, The Guardian

“Angola’s new media law is the latest threat to free expression and access to information in the country… President Dos Santos should uphold his commitment to human rights and refuse to sign these media restrictions into law.”

Angola: New Media Law Threatens Free Speech, Human Rights Watch

“Turkey last week rose to No. 1 in the world – when it comes to journalists the government has in jail.”

Crushing free speech in Turkey, New York Post

“It’s interesting that so many of the people, like Mr. Trump, who are eager to punish flag-burners are at the same time so untroubled  by speech that offends minorities, woman and other Americans.”

Mr. Trump, Meet the Constitution, The New York Times

“Trump rejects First Amendment values whenever the speech at issue wounds his ego.”

Donald Trump’s Dictatorial Approach to Free Speech, Rolling Stone

“Core freedoms – of expression, association, and more – should be everyone’s right. Media literacy is everyone’s duty. Journalists, and journalism educators like me, have a duty to be their active defenders, and explainers.”

Trump, Free Speech, and Why Journalists Must be Activists, Talking Points Memo

“The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, the press, the right to assemble and to petition the government, and it prevents the government from punishing people who exercise those rights.

And though hate speech is protected, there is a line when a person’s safety is threatened, legal experts say.”

Dallas case tests free-speech rights of a social-media troll, The Seattle Times

“Not since the 14th century has Europe been so devastated by a plague. The bubonic plague was transmitted across Europe by fleas from infected rats; today’s plague is transmitted by political correctness infecting free speech.”

The canary in the free speech coal mine, The Washington Times

“White House press secretary Josh Earnest said while many Americans find flag burning offensive, ‘We have a responsibility as a country to protect our rights that are enshrined in the Constitution.”

Obama spokesman defends flag burning as free speech, The Washington Times

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