The Department of Justice said Tuesday it will support a California student challenging the constitutionality of a “free speech zone” created by his college.
In a statement of interest, the Justice Department said it will back Kevin Shaw, who sued Pierce College in Los Angeles. According to Shaw, administrators banned him from distributing Spanish-language copies of the U.S. Constitution outside of a 616-square-foot area on campus.
In a statement, Attorney General Jeff Sessions called on college and university campus administrators and faculty to “defend free expression boldly and unequivocally.” The Justice Department argued the policies restricting students to a “Free Speech Area” violate the student’s First Amendment rights.
Last month, Sessions said free speech is “under attack” on college campus, and the Justice Department filed its first statement of interest backing a Georgia student.
