Stanford University Reverses Anti-Free-Speech Decision and Acknowledges the Right to Express Satire and Parody

Good work here by Fire (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education), which forced Standford University to reverse its decision withholding a law student's right to graduate because the student dared to write a email satirizing the Federalist Society, Sen. Josh Hawley, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, regarding the events of Jan. 6.

I had no part in this particular action, but I support the work of FIRE. In fact, I recently formed a working relationship with FIRE, a non-partisan free-speech non-profit. As a private practice attorney, I will be representing university faculty members who FIRE refers to me, people who are in need of legal support to address constitutional violations in the areas of free expression, academic freedom, and associational rights.

Continue ReadingStanford University Reverses Anti-Free-Speech Decision and Acknowledges the Right to Express Satire and Parody

University of Rhode Island Condemns its Women’s Studies’ Professor for Taking an Improper Position in her Op-Ed on LBGTQ

You would think it's a good thing for a Women's Studies' Professor to write an op-ed on an issue relating to LBGTQ. Much of the op-ed written by Donna Hughes criticized the the far right and its violent history and ideology. Her employer, University of Rhode Island had no problem with any of that.But she also criticized a position associated with the far left:

The American political left is increasingly diving headfirst into their own world of lies and fantasy and, unlike in the imaginary world of QAnon, real children are becoming actual victims. The trans-sex fantasy, the belief that a person can change his or her sex, either from male to female or from female to male, is spreading largely unquestioned among the political left.” She added that “[w]omen and girls are expected to give up their places of privacy such as restrooms, locker rooms, and even prison cells.

For criticizing LBGTQ ideology, she was publicly condemned by her employer in a flagrant assault on the First Amendment:

A faculty member’s First Amendment and academic freedom rights are not boundless, however, and should be exercised responsibly with due regard for the faculty member’s other obligations, including their obligations to the University’s students and the University community. As stated in the above referenced documents, faculty have a special obligation to show due respect for the opinions of others and to “exercise critical self-discipline and judgment” and “appropriate restraint” in transmitting their personal opinions.

The University, College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Gender and Women Studies are working to support our students and the community as we move through — and learn from — this situation.

The problem is, apparently, that if you criticize an ideology, it is the equivalent of doing violence to real life people. That's what happens when we make a high art of pretending that people are fragile (what we really need is anti-fragility).

Turley accurately concludes: "The only way that Hughes could not cause such harm would be to stay silent on her criticism of the movement. This is a matter that runs to the very core of her writings as an academic and identity as a feminist. , , The silence of other faculty at the university to support their colleague’s rights to free speech and academic freedom is, again, deafening."

Continue ReadingUniversity of Rhode Island Condemns its Women’s Studies’ Professor for Taking an Improper Position in her Op-Ed on LBGTQ

Story about BLM Co-Founder Not Allowed Pursuant to Facebook’s Version of Free Speech

For many people it is an interesting fact that the co-founder of organization Black Lives Matters has gone on a expensive home buying spree. Hasn't this story been told hundreds of times over the years when famous people do some expensive signaling? It sometimes raises interesting questions about where these people got all of that money. In this case, it was determined by the New York Post that Patrisse Khan-Cullors bought four houses worth $3.2M. In a country that values free speech, information should flow and people can make of these stories what they want. For some people it won't be a big deal. For others, these purchases are controversial, because it suggests that money that should be going to a non-profit cause is being siphoned off into luxury.

The story about this story is much more interesting. It was reported by the New York Post. But Facebook (and Instagram) will not allow you to share this story, as discussed by FOX:

Facebook has barred users from sharing a New York Post report from last week about the controversial property acquisitions by Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors.

Users of the social media giant noticed on Thursday they could not share the link to a story that shed light on Cullors' multi-million-dollar splurge on homes. Fox News can confirm that an error message appears whenever users try sharing the article on their personal Facebook page or through the Messenger app.

When users attempt to send the link, an error message alleges that the article "goes against our Community Standards."

The New York Post published this follow-up story today, where Khan-Cullors claimed in a strangely narrowly-tailored defense: "“I have never taken a salary from the Black Lives Matters Global Networks Foundation,” she also said Thursday."

Again, this real estate buying spree could be an interesting story for many people, especially for those who wonder whether their donations to BLM (and its many affiliates) are really helping struggling black people.  The NYP adds: "But in insisting she did not take a salary from the organization’s non-profit foundation, Khan-Cullors left unsaid whether she was paid through BLM’s network of similarly named for-profit entities." Shouldn't people be able to freely share this information and make up their own minds about whether it is interesting?

Numerous Facebook users, however, were blocked from sending the NYP story.  One of those people, Abigail Shrier, was blocked from sending it as a private message on FB Messenger. Outraged, she wrote: "Facebook will not allow you to post this NY Post story or even to message it to another person. (I just tested it). So Facebook is now effectively opening your mail and reading the contents for ideologically objectionable material."

Shrier (who has been victimized by silicon valley regarding her book--and see here) (with the modern version of the ACLU joining in with this censorship) is following up on this disturbing censorship.

Continue ReadingStory about BLM Co-Founder Not Allowed Pursuant to Facebook’s Version of Free Speech

ACLU Sues a Woman Seeking to Use Washington State’s Public Records Act to Determine Transgender Populations in Washington Prisons

It is rather amazing that any organization would seek to block a citizen from obtaining access to public records. It is surreal that the ACLU is seeking to block citizen access, but this is not the principled ACLU of the Ira Glasser era. . Rather, this is the ACLU that hires attorneys that want to ban books. And now, the ACLU has reached a new low.

PM reports what happened in this case:

A woman was interested to know how many inmates in Washington state identify as transgender, and how many of those transgender identified inmates have been given transfers to go from men's prison to women's prison, and the reverse. To get this information, she filed a Freedom on Information Act request. Instead of getting the information she requested, she got sued by the ACLU.

Here's a copy of the public records request filed by the citizen:

Why did this woman seek this information?

"I started requesting information about what is happening in US prisons after learning about cases abroad where violent male offenders were housed in women's prisons," the woman who made the request told The Post Millennial, "including a case where a woman became pregnant as a result. Due to the shameful lack of impartial media reporting on this issue, the public can't trust the institutions we've come to rely on to get accurate information.

The ACLU responded by sending the woman this letter:

I'll end by reminding us all what the ACLU supposedly stands for:

We must seize every opportunity to protect and advance our civil rights and liberties — in legislatures, the courts, and our communities. Join us in holding our leaders and institutions accountable to fulfill the promise of democracy. With your support, we can lead freedom forward.

Continue ReadingACLU Sues a Woman Seeking to Use Washington State’s Public Records Act to Determine Transgender Populations in Washington Prisons