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Berkeley: Then and now (VIDEO)


Today marks the 53rd anniversary of the University of California, Berkeley faculty senate vote which, at the urging of the Berkeley , reformed the institution’s policies on campus expression. In 1964, the students who participated in the movement demanded that Berkeley respect their First Amendment rights. The result was a revolution for student rights on campuses across the country.
On this anniversary, we take a look back at the Berkeley Free Speech Movement to see if it can lend any insights into the free speech controversies that roiled Berkeley’s campus this year.
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FIRE’s award-winning Newsdesk covers the free speech news you need to stay informed.

Missouri governor signs legislation securing students’ rights to freely associate on campus
A new law protects campus groups’ freedom to set their own membership rules — affirming students don’t leave the First Amendment at the campus gate.

Purdue fails its own test on institutional neutrality
Purdue claimed neutrality — until a student paper challenged it. But pressuring the paper to change its name is not neutrality. It’s censorship.

Extortion in plain sight
A baseless lawsuit, FCC strong-arming, an $8 billion merger — and free speech hanging in the balance. Robert Corn-Revere exposes the political pressure campaign that forced CBS to settle a case that never should’ve been filed.

Jailed for basic journalism, Texas reporter takes free speech fight to Supreme Court
When local officials tried to turn journalism into a crime, Priscilla Villarreal refused to back down. Arrested for asking questions, now with FIREat her side, she’s taking her fight all the way to the Supreme Court.