The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is suing Ohio State University after a student who posted statements on social media about Israel and Palestine was removed from the school.
The ACLU alleges that Guy Christensen’s First Amendment rights were violated and that he was engaging in “protected political speech.” He was “disenrolled” from the university without a hearing, which the ACLU said also violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights.
In the lawsuit, the ACLU accused OSU of singling out “a particular viewpoint for censorship and punishment” and decried the move as unconstitutional.
Related Ohio State free speech article: Ohio State, other state colleges get ‘F’ on free speech amid ‘hostile’ atmosphere
“By expelling Mr. Christensen, Ohio State University… has dangerously capitulated to the Trump Administration’s broad program of extreme, and selective, repression of First Amendment activity on college campuses. The University’s actions against Mr. Christensen are an abandonment of its own principles…” the ACLU said in a press release.
Ohio State University declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said the university is committed to protecting the freedom of speech and expression.
(This is a breaking news story and will be updated.)
Reporter Samantha Hendrickson can be reached at shendrickson@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State sued for punishing student over Israel-Palestine statements
