Last week a federal judge in Texas struck down policies at Tarrant Community College that barred students from holding protests or demonstrations outside of a small “free speech area.”
Last semester students at Tarrant Community College attempted to stage an “empty holster protest” to advocate for legalizing the possession of concealed firearms on campus(http://www.campusspeech.org/news/recent-news/-suing-for-free-speech-in-the-lonestar-state#idUx80Xeg8cCxmMFBS1I6ctw). When they were informed that they could only hold the protest in a designated “free speech area” the students sought the help of the ACLU who challenged the policy’s constitutionality in court.
“Free Speech Zones” like the one at Tarrant Community College have become worryingly prevalent in recent years. We reported extensively on the controversy surrounding a similar “free speech patio” at Southwestern College last semester and the University of North Texas only revised its policies to allow expressive speech on all public areas of campus last year.
Students at Tarrant Community College should be applauded for scoring another victory for the free exchange of ideas.