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Want to know what is on our minds? Find blog posts written here, by the City Club staff, members, and partners. Every week you can find a new edition of #FreeSpeech in the News — a collection of related stories, commentary, and opinions on free speech in the 21st century that’s making the news. You’ll also find takes on current events, past forums, and issues surrounding Northeast Ohio. Read on for all things City Club.

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Monday, September 26, 2016

#FreeSpeech in the News: Sept. 26, 2016

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 - this week.

“According to Yelp and other popular sites, the lower court ruling could set a dangerous precedent. If upheld, attorneys say the decision could force third-party websites to remove negative reviews of businesses and products featured on their site – a notion that has prompted concern in tech circles, while Congress debates similar issues.”

The Yelp defamation case could affect the way we view free speech on the internet, Business Insider

“Lee Francis, a history teacher at Massey Hill Classical High School, tells the Fayetteville Observer he stepped on the flag two or three times while talking about the court case Texas v. Johnson, a ruling which says flag desecration is protected by the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights.”

North Carolina teacher steps on U.S. flag as part of free-speech lesson, reports say, Cleveland.com

“’China is further clamping down on alternative viewpoints,’ writes Hong Kong correspondent Cal Wong, “allowing nothing to slip through its censorship net.’”

Is Free Speech in China Really Getting Better?, The Diplomat

“The same extreme sensitivity to words or conduct that might possibly offend someone that has already taken root on many of our college campuses is spreading outward to other parts of our society.”

Political Correctness Continues To Beat Up On Free Speech, Forbes

“Nowhere today is freedom of speech more threatened than at our colleges and universities, the very place whose existence depends most on such freedom.”

Is There A Future For Freedom? Our Universities Will Decide, Forbes Opinion

“Bloggers in Bangladesh face a twofold blow: a draconian Internet law that can be used by the authorities against them at any time, and the ominous threats from extremist groups that monitor the blogs and social media networks. Those threats extended to an array of independent publishing houses that were born in the last decade.”

The price of free speech in Bangladesh, Los Angeles Times

“Those not involved in the debate over Israel-Palestine may not be concerned about Canary Mission and its methods. But these tactics can be used by any group. Especially in educational institutions, it is essential to recognize outside organizations whose goal is to interfere with the mission and ethos of education, and who seek to silence, smear and intimidate those with whom they disagree.”

New attack on free speech: Pro-Israel groups wage war on campus freedom, Salon

“In a Facebook post published Thursday, Miller suggests the Civil War was first and foremost about protecting free speech–not slavery.”

Trump Adviser Argues The Civil War Was About Free Speech, ThinkProgress

“…the misguided call for the United States to exert unilateral control over ICANN [the Internet Coporation for Assigned Names and Numbers] does nothing to advance free speech because ICANN, in fact, has no power whatsoever over individual speech online.”

Ted Cruz is wrong about how free speech is censored on the Internet, The Washington Post

“No bureaucrat should be able to decide whether citizens can exercise political free speech; least of all the tax man.”

Over 50 Nonprofits Demand Congress Act to Protect Free Speech as Deadline Looms, Yahoo! Finance

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