Two weeks ago, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill into law that would eliminate “free speech zones” that restrict the First Amendment on college campuses, according to the Arizona Republic.
Arizona House Bill 2615 will eliminate “free speech zones” at the state’s colleges and replace these spaces with a monument or memorial. Introduced by Republican state Rep. Anthony Kern, the law provides students the right to exercise free speech without restrictions unless the college can prove such a restriction as reasonable or justified. It also gives students the right to file a lawsuit and receive a settlement if the court decides the the school has restricted the student’s speech.
In a statement, Ducey said, “Part of the university experience is to be able to express diverse views, openly, without fear of retribution or intimidation — and to be exposed to other views and perspectives, even if they aren’t politically correct or popular.
The law related to free speech throughout the state’s higher education institutions comes in the aftermath of Paradise Valley Community College, currently involved in a lawsuit for creating a free speech zone which prosecutors said had a traumatic effect on students. In the suit, a student accuses the school of limiting her First Amendment right while she passed out copies of the U.S. Constitution while talking to students about starting a Young Americans for Liberty chapter.
“The First Amendment right of free speech is a bedrock founding principle of our Republic,” said Ducey in the statement. “Likewise, part of the university experience is to be able to express diverse views, openly, without fear of retribution or intimidation — and to be exposed to other views and perspectives, even if they aren’t politically correct or popular. These bills protect free speech throughout our college campuses, and also ensure an individual’s right to engage in free speech isn’t shut down by someone else who disagrees with his or her perspective.”
Another related bill Ducey signed into law, Arizona House Bill 2548, cracks down on free speech infringement in the public square. In light of an incident at a rally for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump last March, the measure also increases penalties for protesters who block traffic in order to disrupt or shut down events. According to the bill, blocking traffic is a misdemeanor and includes government meetings and hearings. The offense can entail six months in prison, or a $2,500 fine.