A UT professor and expert on freedom of expression weighs in on the controversial arrests of 57 individuals, including a journalist, at a campus demonstration.
, with criminal trespassing on the University of Texas at Austin’s campus during a protest against Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza and the university’s investments in weapons manufacturing. DPS and Governor Greg Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to anis a tenured associate professor at UT-Austin, a licensed attorney, and journalist. She has taught courses on media law, journalism ethics, and global protections on speech, press, and protest.
The First Amendment does not protect any kind of physical action that would harm someone’s safety. You have no First Amendment right to push, shove, kick, hit other people. But, often in the case of peaceful protests, like we saw yesterday, there is of course pushing, and people are moving. Oftentimes, police exercise restraint in allowing some of this movement to happen, understanding that you can be in a crowd and come into contact with someone without intending to hurt them.
Obviously, I wasn’t everywhere—I haven’t seen everything. But I suspect that that was a tactic to try to calm the situation. I don’t know that it was lawful. I also don’t think it was effective. was present on campus when one of the dispersal orders was read out around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday.
The idea that we would take all of this action preemptively to try to prevent harm is not something that the First Amendment permits. This standard when we’re talking about incitement speech, for example, which is not protected by the First Amendment, is extremely high. That’s not the way our country works. We don’t allow the government to censor speech before it happens. There are instances where you can be punished for speaking after the fact, but this country has a long history of not allowing the government to preemptively silence people.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas Congresswoman Urges New York Police Officers to Move to TexasRepublican Texas congresswoman, Beth Van Duyne, encourages New York police officers to relocate to Texas, offering a state that supports law enforcement and provides a better quality of life.
Read more »
2News investigates limitations in Utah's system for police accountabilityWho polices the police when law enforcement officers violate their oath?
Read more »
Texas weather: Texas Division of Emergency Management resources ahead of severe weather eventThe Texas Division of Emergency Management prepares state resources ahead of severe storms forecasted to bring large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall, prompting warnings from Chief Nim Kidd to Texans to stay informed and prepared while state agencies standby for emergency response operations.
Read more »
Raise a glass to Texas: Local craft breweries fuel economic growth in TexasWith programs like Brew City, Texas and the Texas Brewery Passport app, the Texas Craft Brewers Guild is working to promote the craft beer scene and boost the economy.
Read more »
Dallas, Texas (US) job with The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern Medical Center)FACULTY POSITION IN PATHOLOGY RESEARCH Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center DALLAS, TEXAS (USA).
Read more »
Final thoughts from Texas Rangers’ win over Tigers: Does Texas have a new closer?The Rangers’ bullpen combined to log four scoreless frames in a 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Read more »