Free Speech
Protecting the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment has always been in the forefront of the ACLU’s mission. The ACLU of Rhode Island was founded 60 years ago largely in response to widespread government efforts to censor books, films, and theater. Today, the ACLU routinely defends the right of citizens to exercise their freedom of speech, of the press, of association, and of petition and protest, no matter how unpopular their opinions may be.
Free Speech in the News
- Jun, 22, 2020: ACLU Calls for Dropping of Felony Charges Against Alleged Columbus Statue Vandals
- Jun, 16, 2020: ACLU Files Lawsuit Over Candidate Ballot Signature Requirements During Covid-19
- Jun, 04, 2020: ACLU Blasts Discriminatory Enforcement of Providence’s Emergency Curfew
Free Speech Related Court Cases
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2020: Blanchette v. Narragansett
- Category: Active Case Criminal Justice Free Speech Police Practices Students' Rights Youth Rights
About this Case:
This is a lawsuit in federal court seeking monetary damages on behalf of a former Narragansett High School student with special education needs who was thrown to the ground, choked and falsely arrested by a school resource officer (SRO). A video of the incident is available here.Current Status:
Lawsuit filed in May 2020.ACLU of RI Cooperating Attorney:
Amato A. DeLuca-
Supporting Documents
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2020: Hanson et. al. v. RIDLT
- Category: Active Case Discrimination Rights of the Poor Due Process Right to Petition & Protest Workplace Rights
About this Case:
This is a class-action lawsuit challenging the RI Department of Labor and Training’s (DLT) actions in summarily freezing unemployment insurance payments to hundreds of Rhode Islanders without notice or explanation.Current Status:
DLT has agreed to take interim action to address the issue. Press release below for more information.ACLU of RI Cooperating Attorneys:
Ellen Saideman; Lynette Labinger-
Supporting Documents
Free Speech Related Legislation
Ban on Masks (H 7543) Held for Further Study
- Category: 2020 Free Speech
Opposed by the ACLU, H 7543 would make it a crime for a person to, during a parade, demonstration, or rally, wear a gas mask, wear protective clothing or equipment designed to prevent a person from injury, or wear any mask at all with the “intent to intimidate another person.” This bill raises serious First Amendment issues in its attempt to allow the government to decide whether a mask in lawful free speech exercises is “intimidating” or not and is especially concerning in its ban on the use of protective clothing.
Child Erotica (H 7737) Held for Further Study
- Category: 2020 Free Speech
Although child pornography is a scourge, we opposed a piece of legislation, H 7737, that would carve out a new exception to the First Amendment criminalizing the possession or display of vaguely defined “child erotica” when used for the “specific purpose of sexual gratification . . . from viewing the visual portrayals.” The distribution or display of constitutionally protected conduct cannot be elevated to a criminal offense solely because of how the person viewing it reacts, yet this bill would unconstitutionally subject individuals to punishment based on a prediction of how they respond to certain types of protected speech.