Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(111,959 posts)
Tue May 2, 2017, 05:59 AM May 2017

Colorado banned free speech zones on campus.

Maybe you went to a candidate rally on a Colorado university campus this campaign season and spotted a sign with an arrow directing you to a designated “free speech area.”

As of the fall semester, on Colorado’s public university campuses, those areas roping off the First Amendment will be no more.

Colorado’s Democratic governor, John Hickenlooper, just signed a bipartisan law granting free speech rights across all campuses— not restricted to particular areas, which has been the current practice.

What does the new law do?

The law defines freedom of expression as speaking, picketing, carrying a sign, or distributing material, and allows people the right to do so freely throughout public university campuses. Voter registration drives also count as free speech. Speech for commercial purposes, like trying to sell stuff, doesn’t.

Read more: http://www.coloradoindependent.com/164828/colorado-free-speech-zones-campus

1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Colorado banned free speech zones on campus. (Original Post) TexasTowelie May 2017 OP
And the new law could likely be ruled un-Constitutional. J_William_Ryan May 2017 #1

J_William_Ryan

(1,748 posts)
1. And the new law could likely be ruled un-Constitutional.
Tue May 2, 2017, 06:49 AM
May 2017

The First Amendment is neither ‘unlimited’ nor ‘absolute.’

There are time, place, and manner restrictions on speech which are perfectly appropriate and Constitutional, where such restrictions are not content-based.

Local jurisdictions - such as public universities - have the authority to establish speech venue restrictions out of concern for public safety, for example, having nothing to do with the content of the speech; restrictions that could very well be upheld by the courts, invalidating the Colorado measure.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Colorado»Colorado banned free spee...