Use Your Voice: Student Protests and Free Speech

This is a rebroadcast of a 60-minute discussion session with an additional 30-minute live, facilitated discussion. Like the original event, this discussion will take place via Zoom. 

The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects people from interference and harm from their government. It makes sure U.S. residents can say and write (and post to social media) almost anything they want—including stuff that’s critical of the government. Criticism of government and institutions can also be social—the first amendment allows students to protest and assemble.

WSU students have made their voices heard and fought for real change in society—including during and in the wake of the last Presidential election year. A protest was held in response to the deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, VA. Students erected A ‘Trump wall’ on the Pullman campus in support of President Trump was erected, and led to a counter-protest. Students staged a sit-in –that echoed similar student activism in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including a student-led occupation of the French administration building.   

Even though it begins, “Congress shall make no law…” the first amendment’s protections against the government aren’t absolute. Threats, intimidation, and speech likely to induce a violent reaction all haven’t been protected. And the first amendment only says we are protected from the government when we assemble “peaceably”—so violence and harming others isn’t protected as expression.

Accordingly, WSU has to balance free expression with the prevention of harassment and harm. In this context—especially since the 1980s—the U.S. court system has placed specific restrictions on students’ speech that don’t apply to others.

Join the CCE Public Square discussion as WSU administration, students, and faculty will provide insight into what students’ rights are and what WSU is doing to enact and enforce policies that allow for individual expression and keep people safe and free from harassment.

This discussion will take place on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. and will be streamed live via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent out to all registrants to this GivePulse event at about 5:30 p.m. the day of the event.

All Public Square discussions are free and open to WSU students and the public.   

Contact: dave jones at dave.jones@wsu.edu.