A dispute over free speech erupted in Oregon when Dr. Bruce Gilley was blocked on social media by the University of Oregon after quoting the Declaration of Independence. He claimed this violated his First Amendment rights and subsequently filed a lawsuit. Though the university unblocked him after 60 days, the case proceeded, leading to an out-of-court settlement where the University paid over $730,000 and revised its social media policies to prevent viewpoint-based censorship, emphasizing both free speech rights and systemic accountability in public institutions.
The university made a costly decision to prioritize DEI principles over constitutional principles, aggressively litigating this case rather than acknowledging that blocking someone for quoting the Declaration of Independence violates the First Amendment.
Thanks to this settlement, the University of Oregon is updating its social media policy to avoid viewpoint-based censorship, providing a mechanism for appealing unfair content blocks.
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