Monday, November 05, 2018
#FREESPEECH IN THE NEWS: NOVEMBER 5, 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.) Seattle-area company helps fringe site Gab return in wake of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting
The "free speech" platform Gab.com where the Pittsburgh shooter shared his intention to murder Jews came back online Sunday night, and it's already filled back up with anti-semitism.
After the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, in which a man named Robert Bowers murdered 11 people for being Jewish during Shabbat services, GoDaddy ended its domain registrar services for the social platform Gab.
Even before the Pittsburgh shooting, Gab had drawn ire and scrutiny for the types of posts and users on the site. In 2016, Gab founder Andrew Torba said the company was seeing a growing user base as Twitter cracked down on racist and hostile users on its site.
2.) Nazi symbol seen on Olympic College campus protected as free speech
The Olympic College security department on Oct. 10 fielded a report of an individual riding a motorcycle on campus who sported a Nazi SS bolt symbol on his helmet. The reporting party was unhappy to learn the emblem fell under the legal definition of free speech.
College officials are "viewpoint neutral" in enforcing policies that allow for lawful public discourse on campus, said Cheryl Nuñez, vice president for equity and inclusion.
Nationally, tensions are at a fever pitch with last week's killing of 11 Jewish worshipers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh and separately the arrest of a suspect who allegedly sent pipe bombs to critics of President Trump. On social media, there's a clash of dissenting views about a northbound caravan of migrants from Central America. And there's the midterm election Tuesday, the stakes for both sides at a historic high.
3.) Fired Millcreek official sues over free speech claim
A new federal lawsuit filed by a fired Millcreek Township employee raises questions about the limits of free speech rights during personal conversations. The township’s former payroll manager, Janice A. Reichard, is claiming she was fired for exercising her First Amendment right to criticize the township treasurer during a conversation with an acquaintance.
The complaint, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Erie, claims the issue arose because the township supervisors said Reichard had been overheard saying in the township building that the treasurer stole from the township — a statement Reichard denies making. She acknowledged, however, when questioned by the supervisors, that she had mentioned she lacked trust in the treasurer, according to the complaint.
The suit claims that Reichard had previously informed the supervisors and other township officials that she had concerns “arising from troubling and irregular bookkeeping practices and procedures implemented and undertaken by the Township treasurer.”
