University of California, Hastings: Heckler’s Veto at Federalist Society Event Prevents Constitutional Scholar Ilya Shapiro From Speaking
Cases
University of California, Hastings
Case Overview
On March 2, at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, protestors disrupted a Federalist Society event featuring constitutional scholar Ilya Shapiro. Before and throughout the event, audience members chanted and yelled at Shapiro to prevent him from speaking. After the event, UC Hastings released a statement condemning the actions of the disruptors as violating university policy and urging students to engage with opposing views instead of trying to silence them. On March 4, FIREcalled for the university to uphold the free exchange of ideas on campus by ensuring students can hold expressive events without substantial disruption. On October 1, UC Hastings adopted an Event Policy that protects student free speech rights by addressing substantial disruptions to expressive events.