Talking Feds with Harry Litman: Free Speech Principles and the Current Wave of Protests over the Israel-Hamas War

Harry talks with noted first amendment scholar Geoffrey Stone about a series of issues that the protests over the Israel-Hamas war present. Can States and colleges ban the ripping down of hostage signs, and are those actions illegal under current law? Does the first amendment protect the taping of protests and protesters? Under what circumstances, if any, may government ban the wearing of masks by protesters? Is enthusiastic support of the October 7 attacks entitled to constitutional protection? Does the answer to any of these questions very depending on whether the regulator is a state, a public university, or a private university? It’s an illuminating discussion about a topic of great contemporary importance.