JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — University of North Florida students are speaking out after being punished by the school for what they’re calling a “silent protest” during former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s speaking event on campus on Friday.
WHAT WE KNOW:
- UNF students are protesting the university over what they call a violation of their First Amendment rights.
- Members of the UNF Students for Democratic Society created two banners that they hung inside the arena during the event. The banners criticized Albright and claimed she had committed war crimes.
- Katelyn Scott, a member of SDS, said UNF police quickly took down the banners and removed those students from the event.
- Soon after, six students received an email from the university, which said they each face disciplinary actions for disruptive behavior, bystander participation, and violations of UNF regulations, policies, rules or regulations.
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“We think it’s a violation of the First Amendment right because we weren’t doing an active disruption, again, it was a silent protest,” Scott said. “All we did was hang up banners.”
The University released the following statement:
“We can not comment on the particulars of this situation. However, the University of North Florida strives to protect the right to free speech as well as ensure participants in on-campus functions can take part in activities without disruption. Within University buildings, such as classrooms, auditoriums and lecture halls, the University is permitted to, and has, implemented regulations regarding expressive activities and the use of signs, banners and displays to ensure that all participants in attendance can take part in the pre-planned activities without material and substantial disruption. The University also provides ample alternative areas and means for expressive activities throughout the campus pursuant to the Florida Campus Free Expression Act. All who wish to engage in expressive activities on the UNF campus are encouraged to become familiar with University Regulations 7.0040R, 7.0060R and 7.0100R regarding signs, banners and expressive activities in both exterior and interior spaces.”
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