Monday, October 29, 2018
#FREESPEECH IN THE NEWS: OCTOBER 29, 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.) Innkeeper says NH Civil Rights Act violates her free speech rights
The Jackson innkeeper accused of violating the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act when she allegedly accosted two guests she believed were non-U.S. citizen Muslims says the act violates her right to free speech under the federal and state constitutions.
Unsatisfied with the conditions they observed, Ghallami and Mounaji asked for a refund of their deposit, but Protasowicki, 33, offered only a voucher for a future stay.
As a verbal disagreement intensified, including references to the couple’s perceived ethnicity and religion, the state alleges that Protasowicki placed her hands on Ghallami when she tried to escort him out of the motel and touched Mounaji while attempting to prevent Mounaji from recording the incident with her cellphone.
2.) First Amendment Lawsuit Filed by Man Arrested for Warning Motorists of Police Trap
A 46-year-old Stamford resident, arrested after holding a sign on a sidewalk reading “Cops Ahead” while officers were stopping motorists for cellphone violations, has filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the arresting police sergeant.
In his federal lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in Bridgeport, Michael Friend said Stamford Sgt. Richard Gasparino had no right to take away his cellphone or arrest him. He claimed that in doing so, the officer violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights against warrantless seizures.
Friend is seeking an undetermined amount of punitive damages against Gasparino, the only defendant in the lawsuit.
3.) Gab, the social network used by accused Pittsburgh synagogue shooter, goes offline
Gab, the social network scrutinized following the shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 dead, went offline as service providers suspended accounts and threatened to shut the website down. The site was known for its approach to free speech, and allowing anyone to say what they wanted on the platform.
A message on Gab.com said the website would not be accessible for a period of time as the site shifts to a new hosting provider.
In a statement, hosting provider GoDaddy confirmed it has given Gab 24 hours to switch providers after claiming the website violated its terms of service. In a statement posted on Gab, CEO Andrew Torba said it will fight to stay online in the wake of the Pittsburgh attack.
The accused Pittsburgh shooter, Robert Bowers, appeared to have an account on Gab where he posted multiple anti-Semitic messages.
