Monday, April 20, 2020
#FREESPEECH in the News April 20, 2020
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.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she understood why people were protesting outside the Michigan Capitol Wednesday, but expressed concern about the people who ignored social distancing guidelines while protesting.
“I was really disappointed to see people congregating and not wearing masks," Whitmer said during a press conference Wednesday. “We know that this rally endangered people. This kind of activity will put more people at risk and sadly, it could prolong the amount of time that we have to be in this posture.”
Whitmer said she saw people handing out candy to children barehanded at the rally and generally gathering close to one another.
She was quick to say that there’s no plan right now to extend the order based off the protest, but the data shows that as people gather in groups, cases spread. And as cases spread, the need to restrict services and to keep people in their homes continues.
2.) Judge doubts Kansas COVID-19 rule, blocks it for 2 churches
A federal judge signaled that he believes there's a good chance that Kansas is violating religious freedom and free speech rights with a coronavirus-inspired 10-person limit on in-person attendance at religious services or activities and he blocked its enforcement against two churches that sued over it.
The ruling Saturday from U.S. District Judge John Broomes in Wichita prevents the enforcement of an order issued by Gov. Laura Kelly against a church in Dodge City in western Kansas and one in Junction City in northeast Kansas.
The judge's decision will remain in effect until May 2; he has a hearing scheduled Thursday in the lawsuit filed against Kelly by the two churches and their pastors, on whether he should issue a longer-term or broader injunction.
A high school sophomore sued the Marquette County sheriff Thursday after he threatened to take her or her family to jail for her post on Instagram warning that she believed she had been infected with coronavirus.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Milwaukee with the help of the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, argues the jail threat violated the teen’s right to free speech. The case raises questions about First Amendment protections in the middle of a pandemic.
On March 27, Sgt. Cameron Klump visited the girl's home and told her father, Richard Cohoon, that Sheriff Joseph Konrath told him to get the latest Instagram post deleted or “start taking people to jail,” according to the lawsuit. Klump said the family could be cited for disorderly conduct as well.
