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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

This isn't a left-right issue.  It's the First Amendment!  (And at the risk of covering well-trodden ground in this thread, the FCC cannot fine someone for their speech at an open government hearing, irrespective of whether it is televised; the First Amendment is no less powerful during prime time.)

It's perfectly reasonable to say that none of this should be discussed at a school board hearing or that speakers should choose their words more carefully.  But none of that goes to the rights of the speaker to make the speech.[/quote]

You may a tough time with this, but sometimes even your precious FREEDOMS have restrictions.

[/quote]

Fortunately the federal courts have spoken clearly on this one. . .[/quote]

Citation? [/quote]

This is a good primer: https://www.nsba.org/ASBJ/2019/October/First-Amendment

Here is the key conclusion:

"I hope the take-away from this article is clear. School boards must be extremely cautious about restricting what citizens say during the period set aside for public comments at school board meetings. Generally, if a school board is going to allow for public comment (which is not constitutionally required), it must allow the public to speak about any matter within the school board’s authority."

And here is just one of the many court opinions on the issue (this one from July 2021): https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/21a0156p-06.pdf

In that case, the school board adopted a rule prohibiting speech that was “antagonistic,” “abusive” and “personally directed.”  The 6th Circuit struck down the rule as impermissible viewpoint discrimination.  In reaching its holding, the court cited the well-established principle that a government entity cannot prohibit offensive speech in a public forum.

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