Chemeketa Tramples First Amendment

Institutions of higher learning should be bastions of free speech and expression, right? In reality they’re one of the most consistent violators of the First Amendment.  Students for Life at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon was subjected to repressive violations of their rights.  Students were delegated to two small areas of campus called “speech zones” which represented less than two percent of the campus.  And you had to make a reservation at least two weeks in advance to get that.  Attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom sued the college, saying “The only permit students need to speak on campus is the First Amendment.”  And of course, they won, plus Chemeketa had to pay twenty-five grand in attorney’s fees.  Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident.