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MSU sued for denying white national group's request to speak

SmokeAndMirrors said:
Why? Colleges aren't required to host an event for every dick with a microphone, especially when said dick advocates ousting a quarter of their student body and presents a large security risk.

Having a right to speak does not mean other people or institutions should be forced to support their message. Free speech =/= an obligation to support their message.

If he wants to speak in Michigan so bad, he can host his own event and just drop MSU some flyers.
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While I agree it does seem to be a rather ignored point most of the time. The argument is often made that the existence of Federal funding (right down to the cost of the public street) entitles the Federal Government to enforce constitutional protections for private citizens and private organizations against beneficiaries of government funding as if the beneficiary inherits federal responsibility in the act of accepting federal funds. I don't agree with this point even a little, but many who do adopt this view of federal power SHOULD be backing the 1st amendment rights of neo-Nazis to speak at a state school and be offered all the same accommodations as any other organization.

I understand the knee jerk reaction of many who wish to impose a separate-but-equal rule on white supremacists in public forums, but I don't think that is really the answer.

Maybe I have gone soft in my old age, but I think if you want to change somebody's mind you would do a better job baking them a pie than you would screaming at them, silencing them or cracking their skull with an ax handle.

Think how awesome it would have been if Antifa showed up in Charlotesville with homemade cookies instead of homemade flame throwers...
 
AGENT J said:
The lawsuit was filed by attorney Kyle Bristow on behalf of Cameron Padgett and says the university violated the First and Fourteenth amendments.
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MSU denied the request. In a statement explaining the decision, MSU President Lou Anna Simon said it "was made due to significant concerns about public safety in the wake of the tragic violence in Charlottesville."

Kent Cassella, an MSU spokesman, said in a statement on Monday that the university is aware of the lawsuit. He added the university made its decision last month "after consultation with law enforcement officials."
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Since the 1st and 14th weren't violated i don't see how they have a case at all. This will probably fail.
At worse if the university uses that venue as a public access business and profit it will no longer be allowed to do so.
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Has anybody stated what grounds they are going to support the claim of violating the 1st and 14th on yet that are actually based on legality?
Like i said i dont see any.
 
ThoughtEx. said:
No it doesn't, because counter protesters didn't plan the event, didn't reserve the space, or file an appeal after being denied because no one wanted them there. This is a false equivalency. please stop, you are not good at this. Go bother someone else.
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Who cares? The question is free speech. She expressed hers. It doesn't need to be planned ahead of time.
Blame for riots goes to those who riot; not those who the rioters riot against.
 
Athanasius68 said:
Who cares? The question is free speech. She expressed hers. It doesn't need to be planned ahead of time.
Blame for riots goes to those who riot; not those who the rioters riot against.
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This isn't about blame, or free speech, it's about financial liability. I have never said, don't let the white supremacist speak. But the issue with him speaking is that it will generate a protest which may damage property. If he still insists on speaking, he can assume the liability for damages. That is in no way restricting his free speech. And I care more about the **** my cat just took, than I do about your opinion on whether he should assume liability for damages his speech may cause.
 
ThoughtEx. said:
This isn't about blame, or free speech, it's about financial liability. I have never said, don't let the white supremacist speak. But the issue with him speaking is that it will generate a protest which may damage property. If he still insists on speaking, he can assume the liability for damages. That is in no way restricting his free speech. And I care more about the **** my cat just took, than I do about your opinion on whether he should assume liability for damages his speech may cause.
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All this creates is a rioters veto.
 
Athanasius68 said:
All this creates is a rioters veto.
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he chose a venue where a riot would be more likely
an alternative is to take his presentation out in the country and burn some crosses
but only the low wattage who already own hoods would attend
the riot he hopes for, to generate media attention, would not result
 
justabubba said:
he chose a venue where a riot would be more likely
an alternative is to take his presentation out in the country and burn some crosses
but only the low wattage who already own hoods would attend
the riot he hopes for, to generate media attention, would not result
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I suspect the proposed removal of the statue is what determined the venue.
 
Flouncy Magoo said:
GRAND RAPIDS - Michigan State University was sued Sunday in federal court over its decision last month to deny a white nationalist group's request to speak on campus.

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Kyle Bristow on behalf of Cameron Padgett and says the university violated the First and Fourteenth amendments.

In the lawsuit, Bristow says his client — a Georgia State University student — attempted to rent a conference room at MSU's Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center so Richard Spencer, a prominent white nationalist and president and director of the The National Policy Institute, could speak about his "Alt-Right philosophy."

MSU denied the request. In a statement explaining the decision, MSU President Lou Anna Simon said it "was made due to significant concerns about public safety in the wake of the tragic violence in Charlottesville."

She added that while she and the university "remain firm in our commitment to freedom of expression, our first obligation is to the safety and security of our students and our community."

Michigan State sued after denying request for white nationalist group to speak on campus


"We want to use government to force you to allow us to tell you why government shouldn't be allowed to force you to associate with us"
-Alt right

Should Nazi terrorists like Richard Spencer be allowed to recruit more Nazi terrorists? Should we allow ISIS to send speakers here to recruit more terrorists for their wars? They have a right to speak, too, right?
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Another perfect example of the imperfection of free and protected speech. You have no right to come onto my property and speak as you wish, as protected, barring what is blah-blah-blah illegal speech. On public land, you have the total right of free speech, barring obstructing traffic, permits, blah-blah-blah. Where do you draw the line? That is the question here, IMO. I am against barring speech, however distasteful, unless it is actually illegal for the few reasons there are. If a speaker has engaged in a speaking event wherever, that has been fairly decided as to who(m) speaks, then they, that person(s), should be allowed to speak. The fairness of that decision may be in dispute. But, that's the deal.
 
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