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VerifiedCampus Speech

College stopped student from sharing religious literature in 'free speech zone'

Jul 7, 2016Lawrenceville, GASubmitted by Staff
Summary

Chike Uzuegbunam, a student at Georgia Gwinnett College, was stopped by campus police in 2016 from distributing religious literature outside the campus's two tiny 'free speech zones.' The Supreme Court ruled 8–1 in his favor in 2021, holding that a request for nominal damages can keep a First Amendment case alive.

Full report

In summer 2016, Georgia Gwinnett College student Chike Uzuegbunam was twice stopped by campus officials from distributing Christian literature and speaking publicly outside the college's two designated 'speech zones,' which together comprised about 0.0015% of the campus. With Alliance Defending Freedom, he sued. After the college changed its policy and argued the case was moot, the Supreme Court ruled 8–1 in Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski, 592 U.S. 279 (2021), that a claim for nominal damages keeps a First Amendment suit alive. The case settled in 2021 for nominal damages and attorney's fees.

Tags
#Religious Expression#Free Speech Zone#College#Supreme Court#ADF#Nominal Damages

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