Foundation for Individual Rights in Education statement on the University of Florida decision

[LetMyPeopleVote]

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FIRE statement on University of Florida decision to prevent professors from testifying in voting rights lawsuit
by FIRE

October 30, 2021
FIRE is deeply concerned by a report in The New York Times that the University of Florida has barred three professors from participating as witnesses in a voting rights lawsuit against the state of Florida.

FIRE has said it before, and we’ll say it again: The profound civic importance of fair trials requires the ability of fact and expert witnesses to come forward to testify truthfully without fear that their government employer might retaliate against them. Public university faculty are no exception. We call on UF to reverse course immediately.

UF should be aware that Plymouth State University’s ill-considered decision to punish faculty who had testified in a trial ultimately cost the state of New Hampshire’s taxpayers $350,000. FIRE warned Plymouth State then, and we’re warning UF now: If you pick a fight with the First Amendment, you will lose.

[marybourg]

1. I like the tone of that.

[malaise]

2. Next Deathsentence will tell them who they can hire

and what can be taught.

Fuck that fascist!

[sop]

3. Dr. Joseph Ladopo, professor of medicine at UF, is allowed to serve as DeSantis' Surgeon General

while still employed at the medical school, so be can publicly spread Covid-19 misinformation.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Thank the gods of reason!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. "The university does not exist to protect the governor."

Link to tweet

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Never heard of FIRE before; I'll keep an eye out for them.

And if I ever manage to land a decent job, open my checkbook for them.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. They're non-partisan. They're as likely to support what at DU is regarded as a RW cause as they are

to support what is regarded at DU as a LW cause.

You might find that a post that speaks out in favor of FIRE gets alerted on.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. Nikki Fried on this stunt

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. The University of Florida digs its hole deeper to defend Ron DeSantis

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[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. Tough warning to UF from TheFIREorg: "If you pick a fight with the First Amendment, you will lose"

TryingToHelpHat Retweeted

Tough warning to
@UF
from
@TheFIREorg
: "If you pick a fight with the First Amendment, you will lose." Read the full statement here: https://thefire.org/fire-statement-on-university-of-florida-decision-to-prevent-professors-from-testifying-in-voting-rights-lawsuit/
#freespeech #academicfreedom

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