Clay Calvert Comments on Racist Online Posts and Real-World Consequences

Clay Calvert, director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, is quoted in “Students, Others Forwarding Racists Online Posts for Public Shaming, Real-World Consequences” published in The Palm Beach Post on June 17.

The article focuses on public shaming of young authors of racist social media posts. In some instances, they are being forwarded to college admission officers, athletic coaches and employers to possibly impose real-world consequences for hateful speech online.

According to Calvert, public university students or faculty making racist, homophobic or sexist comments on their own personal devices are protected under the First Amendment.

“The fact that the First Amendment may protect you from engaging in certain types of speech does not mean that you should engage,” Calvert said. “The First Amendment gives us a lot of length that we’re lucky to have… but we should use those rights responsibly, ethically and morally.

He added, “Universities can sometimes employ codes of conduct or cyberbullying laws to punish people accused of harassing communications.”

Posted: June 18, 2020
Category: College News, Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project News
Tagged as: Clay Calvert, Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project