Free Talk Live - Published news - Free Speech

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.

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.

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.

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 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."

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.

6 Out Of 10 Colleges and Universities Severely Restrict Free Speech.

ddpaulbell — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 01:44:36 +0000

The Foundation For Individual Rights In Education(FIRE) surveyed 409 schools and found 6 out of 10 maintain severely restrictive 'red-light' speech codes.

Judge issues temporary court order to allow Christmas light "birdie".

zhaliberty — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 18:42:28 +0000

Louisiana woman in dispute with neighbors says F---you with Christmas light message. Police officer says it violates city obscenity statute... which doesn't exist. ACLU helps her in court. She's harassed by neighbors and police with other petty citations.

Christmas in Prison

PC Harris — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 02:01:27 +0000

Katherine Olejnik and Matt Duran Have Not Been Charged with Any Crime, and Yet They Have Been Locked Up for Three Months and Counting.

Man charged over Facebook comments threatening to shoot kids

flash3780 — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:10:43 +0000

Free speech? Pfft! This kid says something stupid on Facebook and then winds up in jail with $100k bond. He's charged with "inducing panic". Really? Where's the riot?

"Ignorant free speech often works against the speaker. That is one of several reasons why it must be given rein instead of suppressed."
--Anna Quindlen

Nurse found dead after DJ prank call, Radio DJs removed from show

ecigarettes — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:02:11 +0000

A nurse at the hospital that was duped by a prank call from two Australian radio DJs concerning Prince William's pregnant wife, Catherine, has apparently committed suicide, the hospital confirmed Friday. The nurse "was recently the victim of a hoax call," King Edward VII Hospital said in a media statement. The DJs impersonated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles in the prank call, in which some details of the Duchess of Cambridge's condition and care were given.

Christian Union Bans Women From Speaking At Meetings

ecigarettes — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:00:20 +0000

A university's Christian society has banned women from speaking at events and teaching at meetings, unless they are accompanied by their husband, it has been revealed. An email sent out by president Matt Oliver to all BUCU members said: "It is ok for women to teach in any CU setting... However we understand that this is a difficult issue for some and so decided that women would not teach on their own at our weekly CU meetings, as the main speaker on our Bristol CU weekend away, or as our main speaker for mission weeks.

Ohio man gets jail for mocking disabled girl

hurricane101 — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 01:05:26 +0000

William Bailey of Canton will spend a month behind bars after he was caught on video making fun of the way a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy walks.

How Free Speech Died on Campus

Sammy316 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:26:40 +0000

A young activist describes how universities became the most authoritarian institutions in America.
At Yale University, you can be prevented from putting an F. Scott Fitzgerald quote on your T-shirt. At Tufts, you can be censured for quoting certain passages from the Quran. Welcome to the most authoritarian institution in America: the modern university—"a bizarre, parallel dimension," as Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, calls it.