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December 2006, CALIFORNIA
Borat Goes Too Far
A judge denied two South Carolina fraternity brothers’ request to block the DVD release of the movie “Borat” and to remove a scene of the men, who claim they were duped into misbehaving on film. The film “made plaintiffs the objects of ridicule, humiliation, mental anguish and emotional and physical distress,” according to the lawsuit.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=17886
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MARCH, 2007, ALASKA
"Bong Hits 4 Jesus"
A case before the Supreme Court will test the free speech rights of high school students. In 2002, the principal of a Juneau high school suspended Joseph Frederick, then a high school senior, for displaying a “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” banner at an off-campus, school-sanctioned event. Frederick, now 23, said though he was trying to provoke a reaction from school officials, he was speaking out only in favor of free speech, not in favor of drugs. Justice Stephen Breyer said in regards to Morse v. Frederick that ruling in Frederick’s favor could encourage students to go to extreme lengths to test the limits of the ruling, but a ruling in favor of the school “may really limit free speech.”
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/Speech/news.aspx?id=18304
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MARCH 2007, ARIZONA
Religion VS Wastewater
A federal appeals court ruled operators of the Arizona Snowbowl may not use treated wastewater to make snow, a procedure that would have violated the religious freedom of Navajos and other American Indian tribes. The resort north of Flagstaff also wanted to clear about 100 acres of forest to extend to the western side of the San Francisco Peaks, which have spiritual and religious significance to 13 Southwestern tribes. The tribes claimed the government didn’t adequately address the impact of wastewater on the environment. In the Navajo Nation v. U.S. Forest Service decision, Judge William A. Fletcher said the snowmaking scheme violated the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and was like using wastewater in Christian baptisms.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/rel_liberty/news.aspx?id=18277
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MARCH 2007, MONTANA
Military Funeral Protests
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer signed a bill barring protests within six city blocks of a funeral or memorial, beginning one hour before it starts and lasting until one hour after it ends. The law is aimed at members of a Kansas church group, who have picketed military funerals, contending that God is punishing U.S. soldiers in Iraq because America condones homosexuality. Under the new law, violators face a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine, and may be forced to pay punitive damages to the family of the deceased as well.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/Assembly/news.aspx?id=18305
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FEBRUARY 2007, TEXAS
Student Newspaper Content
Regents at the University of Texas have relinquished content control of the student newspaper “The Daily Texan,” believed to be the only large daily college newspaper not published until after an adviser examines it. The new agreement transfers oversight to the Texas Student Media Board, composed of six students, three faculty members and two professional journalists. Kathryn Lawrence, director of Texas Student Publications, said the prior review never led to widespread censorship, despite friction over the policy.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=18137
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FEBRUARY 2007, ILLINOIS
American Indian Mascots
The University of Illinois dropped its mascot of 81 years, Chief Illiniwek, to make the school eligible to host postseason NCAA championship events. American Indian groups, among others, have complained for years that the mascot is demeaning. Supporters say it honors American Indians’ contributions to the state. The mascot is portrayed by buckskin-clad students who dance at athletic events, and the NCAA deemed it an offensive use of American Indian imagery in 2005.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org//news.aspx?id=18160
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NOVEMBER 2006, NEW YORK
Anti-War Protests
A trial judge ruled that anti-war demonstrators may only protest outside a military recruiting station at a mall on Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m. on an outside sidewalk. The mall sought the preliminary injunction after the county prosecutor dropped trespassing charges against the protest leaders. State Supreme Court Justice Vincent Bradley ruled that while there is no First Amendment right to demonstrate on private property, the presence of a government office at the mall changes the situation.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=17620
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