It’s been several months since a Washington State District Court granted four anti-harassment orders against me from Chris Toher, Lew Guerrette, Dave Harrison, and James McReynolds. Now we are finally approaching the culmination of the appeal of those orders, and I am represented by the Executive Director of the Civil Liberties Defense Center and the […]
Tag Archives | first amendment
First Amendment victories in New York
Last month, First Amendment defenders won two significant victories in New York. First, protestors of Donald Trump’s racist run for President secured the right to protest in front of Trump Tower in downtown Manhattan.
FCC Caps Prison Phone Rates
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued sweeping reforms to jail phone-call rates. In many states, prior to the reforms, the cost of a 15-minute in-state call could cost upwards of $5.
Federal appeals court allows lawsuit against NYPD for Muslim spying
Last week, in Hassan v. New York, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court and held that a lawsuit may move forward against the NYPD for spying on Muslims. The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit against the NYPD for discriminating against them as Muslims.
Federal court affirms constitutional right to criticize police
Last week, a federal court in New York affirmed the First Amendment right to criticize police using profane language. In the case, Barboza v. D’Agata, the federal court in the Southern District of New York addressed a case in which an individual received a speeding ticket in the town of Liberty, New York. He agreed […]
City Dismisses Charges Against SLEEPS Activist
EUGENE, OR: On Friday July 24, 2015, the Assistant City Attorney of Eugene dismissed a criminal case that he filed and prosecuted against Hedin Brugh, a long-time SLEEPS activist who advocated for unhoused people.
Another win for CLDC
Last week, a federal court in Montana dismissed a charge against a citizen journalist attempting to observe and document the government roundup of wild buffalo outside Yellowstone National Park.
Affirming the right to record police
Last week, federal courts issued two decisions affirming the right of citizens to record police under the First Amendment.
Three strikes against unchecked government spying and censorship
Last week was a busy week for privacy and free speech advocates. In New York, a federal appeals court issued a decision finding that the National Security Agency’s (NSA) telephone metadata collection program is illegal. In California, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction against a San Diego jail policy allowing “postcards only” for inmates. […]
First Amendment victory in Pennsylvania
Last week, a federal court in Pennsylvania struck down a state law aimed at restricting the free speech rights of prisoners. In Mumia Abu Jamal v. Kane, the court addressed a new state law in Pennsylvania called the “Revictimization Relief Act,” which attempted to stop accused or convicted criminals from publicly expressing viewpoints that might […]