California State University LA president being sued for blocking free speech, infringing First Amendment rights

Christian legal ministry Alliance Defending Freedom has taken legal action against the president of the California State University Los Angeles and some of its professors for allegedly blocking the right to free speech. The federal lawsuit was filed on befalf of: Young America's Foundation; CSU-LA Young Americans for Freedom; a student at the university; and conservative speaker, author and columnist Ben Shapiro, who claim that their First Amendment rights were violated by the university.

"The cornerstone of higher education is the ability of students to participate in the 'marketplace of ideas' on campus," ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer said in a statement. "Instead, student groups and Mr. Shapiro encountered systematic and violent opposition to a free speech event promoting diversity of opinion. When public universities discriminate against points of view they don't like, they violate both the First Amendment and a core purpose behind their own existence. This type of viewpoint discrimination cannot and will not stand."

According to the ADF press release, the YAF and Shapiro partnered in January to have him speak about free speech in higher education in different college campuses. The event at CSU-LA was scheduled for Feb. 25 where Shapiro was to give a presentation titled "When Diversity Becomes a Problem."

A week before the event, on Feb. 18, officials at the university allegedly tried to stop it, informing YAF that Shapiro's "topics and views are controversial"; thus, they were to pay $621.50 for security.

On Feb. 22, William Covino, the president of CSU-LA emailed the student organization to cancel the event because that would be "best for our campus community." He further said that a "more inclusive event" can be organized where Shapiro can provide a presentation "as part of a group of speakers with differing viewpoints on diversity."

When the YAF pushed through with the event, they found protesters blocking the venue's entrance. They were shouting "free speech" and "no violence," yet they prevented people who wanted to attend the event from getting in, some of whom got hurt. Campus police did little to keep the protesters from disrupting the event. The mob was allegedly incited by some faculty members. 

"CSU-LA unilaterally decided what ideas are permissible, in a flagrant violation of the First Amendment, and even allowed an aggressive mob to menace free speech supporters," ADF Senior Counsel David Hacker said. "The defendants' actions violated numerous university policies, as well as state and local laws. By blocking access to the event, the protestors created a serious safety hazard and denied our clients' fundamental rights to free speech, due process, and equal protection of law."

The lawsuit challenges the university's unconstitutional policies, "restricting the expressive rights of students and student organizations."

"CSULA violated the First Amendment," Shapiro wrote on Facebook. "So we're suing them."