Free Speech

Every couple of years, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board makes headlines for violating citizens’ right to free speech. The latest example? The board’s president, Tom Nordyke, and superintendent, Jon Gurban, are banning the Minneapolis Charter Commission from holding public meetings at park buildings because the commission’s topic is a proposed charter amendment that would [...]

It’s that most wonderful time of the year again, the “War on Christmas” season.
Over the past day, Gretchen Carlson, a co-host of “Fox & Friends” and the last Minnesotan to become Miss America (1989), invoked her local roots as part of a full-court press to put the issue – now an annual holiday tradition in its [...]

Up until Wednesday, Republican National Convention delegates could expect to see video of Guantanamo detainees, scenes from the Iraq war, and movies like “Body of War” broadcast on huge Jumbotron trucks from the capitol front lawn. But thanks to Minnesota’s second-highest constitutional officer, Republican Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, the project’s permit was denied.

That’s not the end of it, though: The digital billboard’s sponsor, True Blue Minnesota, is heading to court this afternoon in hopes of winning back the right to present the videos.

[Updated with Video] Three New York media professionals in town to cover the Republican National Convention were detained by Minneapolis police officers in Northeast Minneapolis early Tuesday morning. Police confiscated their equipment, which the trio calls a deliberate attack on their right to free speech.

A city of Minneapolis plan to require permits for protests is drawing the ire of local free-speech groups. The local chapter of the National Lawyers Guild blasted the city for what a spokesman described as an obstacle to the exercise of free speech in the city.

“Given that ordinances already exist for marches and parades on [...]

The Supreme Court of Minnesota ruled unanimously last month that anti-abortion protesters cannot be cited for disrupting traffic even though their signs were, by all accounts, graphic.  And that ruling has earned support from what might seem an unlikely group.

“We support and fight for First Amendment rights.  This case is about that,” said Kathi Di [...]