Monday, June 25, 2018
#FREESPEECH IN THE NEWS: JUNE 25, 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.
1.) The ACLU’s Longstanding Commitment to Defending Speech We Hate
The ACLU responded to an article in the Wall Street Journal that states an internal memo was discovered regarding the groups stance on free speech. The article states the memo indicated the ACLU would be less committed to defending free speech from individuals and entities it disagreed with.
In response, the ACLU says only its board can change policy, which remains the same. They also say no one was asked to change the current policy. The group says guidelines have been introduced to help decide which cases the ACLU can serve.
2.) Exxon says climate lawsuits violate its right to free speech
The oil giant Exxon, which says it is dedicated to fighting climate change, is countersuing several cities it says are forcing the company to make it agree to certain climate change stances. Exxon says this violates its right to free speech.
The cities opposing Exxon says the company, despite its stance, continues to release incorrect or conflicting information regarding climate change. Exxon has already had one case of this nature dismissed by a New York judge. There are now cases elsewhere, including California.
“But the Texas judge, R.H. Wallace Jr., bought the argument and handed Exxon a victory in April. That means the company can now grill California city officials about whether the climate suits, from the Bay to New York City, have been one big conspiracy to violate the company’s right to free speech.”
3.) Company Defends Firing Employee Who Flipped Off Trump's Motorcade
The first amendment right to free speech can only be implemented when the victim is being silenced by the government. Akima LLC, a federal government contractor in Virginia recently fired an employee, raising that question again.
Juli Briskman was fired in October 2017 after she was photographed giving a middle finger to President Trump’s motorcade. Briskman also posted the photo to her social media pages.
Akima LLC says the photo violated the company’s social media policy, so she was fired. Briskman then sued the company in April saying it feared it would lose government contracts.
“Akima is not a governmental entity—it is a private company,” the company’s lawyers wrote in court papers asking a judge to dismiss Briskman’s claims. “Therefore, Akima’s termination of plaintiff’s employment cannot possibly violate free speech clauses in the U.S. or Virginia Constitution.”
