FIRE Defends Free Speech Rights Of UConn Students Criminally Charged With 'Ridicule' For Using 'N-Word'

Chris Menahan
InformationLiberation
Oct. 29, 2019

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has stepped up to defend the free speech rights of two University of Connecticut students who were arrested and charged with "ridicule" last week for using the "N-word."

From Campus Reform:

A student free speech legal advocacy organization has come to the support of two University of Connecticut students who were arrested Monday for using a racial slur.

As previously reported by Campus Reform, the students were tracked down by the university police and charged under a Connecticut state statute that prohibits "ridiculing" language. Free speech experts say both the investigation and the charge are unconstitutional.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education penned a letter to the University of Connecticut on Wednesday, advising the school to "disclaim the possibility of further punishment" against the students who were arrested Monday for using a racial slur. FIRE accuses the institution of having already made a "stunning departure from its constitutional obligations" in assisting with bringing charges against the students, which FIRE says "must be dropped."

The students were arrested after another student filmed them saying the word in what was allegedly a dare scenario. The filming student then contacted university police who used a combination of security footage, card swipe data, and WiFi connection data to track down the students.

The students were allegedly playing the game where you and a friend (or a group of friends) one by one shout the same offensive word in a public setting at increasingly louder decibels and the last person willing to shout the offensive word wins.

At my school, kids would shout "penis" but I guess these days that wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.

Regardless, this is a cut and dry free speech case but seeing as how the majority of Americans in the New America™ reportedly oppose free speech the school and state chose to aggressively go after them for speech crimes.

There was a serious question as to whether or not any of the myriad of Conservative, Inc. groups which rake in millions in cash from conservative donors would step up to the plate to defend them but fortunately FIRE delivered.

The Connecticut statute that was used is a rarely-enforced relic dating to 1917 and intended to address advertisements for businesses, not every use of derogatory language. pic.twitter.com/1d5XLg4wev
— FIRE (@TheFIREorg) October 22, 2019

Even if you find this speech undeserving of sympathy, empowering authorities to investigate and penalize racially-offensive commentary will be abused — indeed, a number of the rare charges under this statute have been for insulting police officers.
— FIRE (@TheFIREorg) October 22, 2019

Read FIRE's full letter defending the students free speech rights here.

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