Monday, April 30, 2018
#FREESPEECH IN THE NEWS: APRIL 30, 2018
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 – in the past week.
Long Beach to consider zoning change that would allow tattoo parlors in most commercial areas
Possible zoning changes could mean tattoo business in Long Beach, California, would be allowed to open in any commercial district.
The changes would be a result of an ongoing dispute and lawsuit filed by James Real, owner of American Beauty Tattoo in Huntington Beach. Real says current zoning laws violate the free speech rights of tattoo artists. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9thCircuit already ruled tattooing is protected free speech in 2013. An appeals court also upheld that decision in 2017.
If passed, tattoo business owners would be permitted to open in almost any commercial district (the Commercial Storage District, which isreservefor storage companies, would be their only limitation). Businesses would also not be allowed to open within 700 feet of one another or schools.
Federal judge rules that UC Berkeley must face free speech lawsuit
UC Berkeley will have to face a lawsuit alleging the campus discriminates against conservative speakers, a judge has ruled.
The school had requested that the lawsuitbedismissed.
The plaintiffs in the case are Berkeley College Republicans andthe YoungAmerica’s Foundation. The organizations say the school’s high-profile speaker and major events policies are discriminatory and unfairly punish student organizations with conservative views. They say the current policies are intentionally vague and difficult toenforce,and give no clear means to allow for making disputes.
Other concerns include speaker fees and campus safety.
This teen’s racist prom invite was a bad idea. But a free-speech expert says it’s his right.
A white high school student in Florida will not be attending prom or graduation, and will likely not attend the last few weeks of school, after a photo of him holding a sign with a racist message appeared online.
The student, 18-year-old Noah Crowley, attends Riverview High School, a public school with 2,600 students in Sarasota, Florida. A spokeswoman for the school district says the disciplinary measures were enforced because of the disruption at the school his comments have caused.
Students at the school are required to adhere to a social media policy, and if school authorities “reasonably believe the conduct or speech has caused or will cause actual, material disruption of school activities or a staff member’s ability to perform his or her job duties.”
