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December 2, 2008 10:34:42 PM CST

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freedom of speech news stories

12 Stories

Palin: Media Threatening My First Amendment Rights

Because it won't let me attack Obama without criticizing me

ABC News ABC News Nov 1, 08 11:27 AM CDT
(Newser) - Sarah Palin seems to think the Constitution is supposed to protect her from criticism. On a conservative radio show, Palin said the media is unfairly attacking her for her shots at Obama on Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright, and that if the media “convinces enough voters that that is negative campaigning, then I don’t know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media.” More »

More about:  Election 2008 • Sarah Palin • McCain 2008 • negative campaigning • First Amendment • freedom of speech

 US Urges China to Free 8 Yanks

Pro-Tibetan demonstrators to be released next weekend

Reuters Reuters Aug 24, 08 2:33 PM CDT
(Newser) - Washington is seeking the release of eight US protesters held by China during the Olympics, Reuters reports. Two were collared Thursday for posting a "Free Tibet" banner near an Olympic event; six others were members of Free Tibet Reporters detained the day before. Beijing vows to release all eight next weekend. This marks the first time during the Olympics that American protesters have been held for more than a day. More »

Amnesty: China Broke Promises of Free Speech

Olympic committee
has hushed dissent despite 2001 vow

Bloomberg Bloomberg Jul 29, 08 11:13 AM CDT
(Newser) - Ten days ahead of the Beijing Olympics’ opening ceremony, Amnesty International charged that China hasn’t welched on promises of freedom for activists and journalists it made when it was awarded the Games. “The Chinese authorities are tarnishing the legacy of the Games,” said a rep who called for the release of “imprisoned peaceful activists” and a path to ending the death penalty, Bloomberg reports. More »

Aussie Court Strikes Down Law Banning Pope Protests

Law against 'annoying' Catholics attending papal events ruled unconstitutional

Reuters Reuters Jul 15, 08 3:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - An Australian court has struck down a law aimed at curbing protests during Pope Benedict XVI's visit Down Under, reports Reuters. The law, ruled unconstitutional, had banned protesters from "annoying" those attending papal events. People handing out condoms or wearing anti-Pope t-shirts faced possible $5,000 fines. More »

More about:  Australia • protests • Pope Benedict XVI • Catholicism • protesters • Sydney • Catholic • freedom of speech

Opinion

Teenagers Have Rights, Too

Schools shouldn't
use high court
ruling to silence
'disruptive' students

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Seattle Post-Intelligencer Jul 12, 08 7:10 PM CDT
(Newser) - "Teenagers have constitutional rights." That shouldn’t be controversial, but several schools are in court arguing that the First Amendment doesn't apply to students, writes Frank LoMonte in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Morse v. Frederick set a precedent last year, when Supreme Court judges ruled that students could be punished for a “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” banner—even though it was off school grounds. More »

More about:  US Supreme Court • education • school • First Amendment • freedom of speech

Opinion

 Real Patriots Criticize
 the Government 

American ideals more important than scare of the minute

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Atlanta Journal-Constitution Jul 4, 08 6:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - Patriotism is the word of the day, but what does it mean? For Cynthia Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , it means fighting for your country’s ideals. "I believe I'm lucky to be an American because our founding document embraces the revolutionary idea that any citizen should be able to criticize his government without fear of retaliation," she writes. More »

More about:  civil rights • constitution • patriotism • freedom of speech

Philly Guides Seek Liberty From Licensing Law

Test requirement violates First Amendment, guides argue

Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia Inquirer Jul 3, 08 10:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - Three tour guides in the cradle of democracy are taking the city to court over a law they say tramples on their constitutional rights, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer . The law compels Philadelphia guides to pay a fee and take a test to get a tour license—and the plaintiffs argue the requirements violate their First Amendment right to free speech. More »

More about:  Philadelphia • First Amendment • tourists • Constitution • freedom of speech

Studios Want to Keep
Certain Movies Off Your DVR

Blocking the copying of hi-def films before DVD release is tradeoff for fast-tracking to TV

Ars Technica Ars Technica Jun 9, 08 4:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - Hollywood is pressing the Federal Communications to allow studios to block digital video recorders from copying high-definition films before they're released to DVD, Ars Technica reports. In return, the studios promise to shorten the time it takes movies to get from theater to home TVs. The feds would need to waive rules barring cable providers from transmitting digital codes that block such copying. More »

More about:  FCC • DVR • freedom of speech • MPAA

Teen Calls Scientology a 'Cult,' Faces Charges

London police leap to institution's defense

Guardian (UK) Guardian (UK) May 20, 08 3:40 PM CDT
(Newser) - A 15-year-old is facing charges for holding a sign calling Scientology a "cult" during a peaceful protest. A London policewoman asked the teen to remove the sign; when he refused, she handed him a court summons, the Guardian reports. Free speech and anti-cult groups are furious, particularly in light of recent gifts from the Church of Scientology to the London Police Department totaling thousands of pounds. More »

More about:  Scientology • freedom of speech

 Court Upholds Child Porn Law 

Justices overturn ruling that measure was too broad

Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times May 19, 08 12:11 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Supreme Court today upheld a tough federal child pornography law in a 7-2 decision, the Los Angeles Times reports. The law makes it illegal to offer or seek child porn online, even if there is no actual pornography, or if the images are computer-generated rather than of actual children. The decision overturns an appeals-court ruling that the law infringed on free speech. More »

More about:  US Supreme Court • child pornography • freedom of speech

Deposition Earns Hefty Fine for Salty CEO

73 F-bombs spice up testimony; unamused judge wants $29K

Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia Inquirer Apr 7, 08 12:38 PM CDT
(Newser) - A CEO's foul-mouthed deposition could cost him and his lawyer $29,323 for making a "spectacular failure" of legal proceedings, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. "I've never seen anything like this" in 30 years, said a judge of Aaron Wider dropping 73 F-bombs in 12 hours. Wider and his counsel, who split ways on court order, are appealing. More »

More about:  censorship • court • court cases • obscenity • freedom of speech

Judge Upholds Ban on Internet Gambling

Online gambling association will appeal

Associated Press Associated Press Mar 7, 08 5:35 PM CST
(Newser) - A Congressional ban on Internet gambling doesn’t violate the Constitution, says a federal judge. An online gambling association that challenged the law failed to show sufficient cause to stop its enforcement, the judge ruled, but does have legal standing to appeal the case. The group plans to do so within two months, reports AP. More »

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