Free Talk Live - Submitted news - Free Speech

U.S. Obtains Wide AP Phone Records in Probe

davidfordhere — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:15:09 +0000

The Justice Department secretly obtained two months of telephone records of reporters and editors for the Associated Press in what the news cooperative's top executive called a "massive and unprecedented intrusion" into how news organizations gather the news.

After Benghazi, IRS tea party probe: Govt seized AP phone records
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/benghazi-irs-tea-party-probe-govt-sei...

Anarchist anthropologist in academic exile

Ricardo Obsolete — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:36:07 +0000

David Graeber can't get a job in academia even though he is one of the world's most influential anthropologists. Why? Because he is an anarchist.

Facebook Post/April Fools' gag leads to criminal charges

wkth1 — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:40:26 +0000

FINDLAY -- A man now faces charges after an April Fool's gag goes wrong. Police charged Robert Leonard with disorderly conduct for allegedly panicking the community with a Facebook post.

Leonard wrote Findlay was under attack and the Army was surrounding the town as a joke on April Fool's Day. He now faces a $1,500 fine. Leonard says it's crazy he's actually being charged and might choose to go to jail instead of paying the fine.

NSW laws passed to end right to silence

Ben — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:45:04 +0000

PEOPLE in NSW will no longer have the "right to silence" when being questioned by police

“Fourth Amendment-Free Zones”?

tipplebipple — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 19:09:58 +0000

Do You Live In A Constitution-Free Zone? Fourth Amendment Rights Non-Existent Within 100 Miles Of Entire US Border

Bradley Manning’s full statement

SKuyken — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:38:25 +0000

The statement below was read by Pfc. Bradley Manning at a providence inquiry for his formal plea of guilty to one specification as charged and nine specifications for lesser included offenses. He pled not guilty to 12 other specifications. This rush transcript was taken by journalist Alexa O’Brien at Thursday’s pretrial hearing. O’Brien provided Salon with the full transcript.

Man serving 2 yr prison sentence for criticizing judge

phonon — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:55:11 +0000

Daniel Brewington was not happy with the way that Dearborn County, Indiana, Judge James D. Humphrey handled his divorce case, during which he lost custody of his children, and he explained why at length in various strongly worded online commentaries. Largely as a result of those posts, Brewington is serving a two-year sentence at the Putnamville Correctional Facility for intimidation, attempted obstruction of justice, and perjury.

Bigots shoot the messenger because they don't like the message

willlow97 — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:17:30 +0000

Small town Mississippi newspaper reports on the first ever gay marriage in their county. They label it "historic" and put it on the front page. The local bigots go crazy.

FEDS: HOMESCHOOLING NOT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT

autonomous — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:53:44 +0000

German Christian family could have children taken away in desire to immigrate into America to be able to homeschool. Justice Dept. arguing that homeschooling is not a fundamental right.

Reporting Factory Farm Abuses an Act of Terrorism

tomcat — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 08:13:16 +0000

New Hampshire, Wyoming and Nebraska are the latest states to introduce Ag-Gag laws aimed at preventing employees, journalists or activists from exposing illegal or unethical practices on factory farms.

‘Not every opinion is valid’: Free speech wall torn down

JayEarth — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:59:35 +0000

I think that this story speaks for itself, but this is another story highlighting an attack against free speech at Universities. I recently graduated from Carleton University and I wish I could say that these kind of events were rare. This piece has many priceless quotes including “Only someone who had gone to university could write something so utterly stupid,” referring to the public explanation given by the individual who tore down the free speech wall.

Much more in the news article itself, but you have to read it to believe it.

CA Fresno State student claims racism against whites

zhaliberty — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:00:59 +0000

Fresno State student is disciplined for questioning racist poem published in school newspaper. He video tapes his questioning of school officials.

Twitter ‘insult’ leads to prison for Kuwaiti activist

Jking8767 — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:33:44 +0000

A Kuwaiti court sentenced a man to two years in prison for insulting the country’s ruler on Twitter, a lawyer following the case said, as the Gulf Arab state cracks down on criticism of the authorities on social media. According to the verdict on Sunday — published by online newspaper Alaan — a tweet written by Rashid Saleh al-Anzi in October “stabbed the rights and powers of the Emir” Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Anzi, who has 5,700 Twitter followers, was expected to appeal the verdict, said the lawyer, who asked not to be named.

Oregon Teen, Posts Facebook Status About Drunk Driving, Gets Arrested

ecigarettes — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 23:14:36 +0000

If there's a surefire way to get caught for committing an offense these days, it's airing the details on social media. Jacob Cox-Brown, an 18-year-old from Oregon, learned that lesson on New Year's Day when police showed up at his door after they were alerted to a Facebook post he wrote about driving drunk, KGW.com reports. "Drivin drunk... classsic ;) but to whoever's vehicle i hit i am sorry. :P," the status update read, according to the news outlet.

Oregon Teen Arrested After Posting Drivin Drunk Facebook Status

aaronclark1989 — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 23:07:14 +0000

The Oregon teen who was arrested after he posted a ‘Drivin drunk’ status update on his Facebook page New Year’s Day says it was all a misunderstanding.

Flipping Off Police Officers Constitutional, Federal Court Affirms

ecigarettes — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 06:30:29 +0000

WASHINGTON -- A police officer can't pull you over and arrest you just because you gave him the finger, a federal appeals court declared Thursday. In a 14-page opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled that the "ancient gesture of insult is not the basis for a reasonable suspicion of a traffic violation or impending criminal activity."

Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Burning of the School

StrayLite — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 02:36:19 +0000

I heard this song a lot when I was a schoolkid in the 60s/70s. I've even sang it a few times. It helped me to vent frustration from "authorities." If schoolkids were to sing this song these days the government would send out the SWAT team.

Woman may "Flip finger" w/ Xmas Lights says Judge

snowdog2012 — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 21:30:15 +0000

NEW ORLEANS — A Louisiana woman ran afoul of police when she gave her neighbors an unusual holiday greeting, hanging Christmas lights in the shape of a middle finger.

A judge ruled in her favor Thursday.