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The university has sent an email to the campus community, saying they reiterate their commitment to freedom of expression.

MINNEAPOLIS As demonstrations continue at the University of Minnesota for the second week, demonstrators maintain that they are remaining peaceful.

"We've had quiet time, people have been studying for finals," one student organizer, who wished to only be identified as Ali, said.

The university has closed buildings near the mall in front of Northrop as those demonstrations continue. Ali says they're not to blame for those closures, instead pointing to the school officials for shutting things down.

"We are not in control of that," he said. "The people that are causing the shutdown are the people in charge."

Ali says that he feels as if the university is infringing on their first amendment rights, while the U of M maintains that they support the right to free speech. Last week, though, nine protesters were arrested.

That got us thinking: Where's the line between free speech and campus policy?

"They have to tread very carefully because of the first amendment," Martin Azarian, an attorney working in Eden Prairie, said, referring to the university. "Colleges are essentially a place of the free exchange of ideas."

Azarian says the first amendment does protect the right to free speech and to gather for the demonstrators, as long as they stay peaceful.

"If the police have to use force to essentially rein in the protesters to preserve life, liberty, property, things of that nature, then we begin to encroach upon the area of criminal law or criminal activity," he said. "And that would be very bad for the protesters."

That could also apply to what they say. Jane Kirtley is a professor at the U, studying media ethics and law. She says context and tone are also important to consider.

"Just because somebody is offended by what you have to say, doesn't mean it's not protected by the first amendment," Kirtley said.

We also asked about the encampment, which Kirtley says the university can impose a ban on students staying there, but they're on shaky ground, unless it's upheld for all.

"To just say across the board, no, you cannot protest in this place that has historically been a place for students gathering in protest is problematic, unless they're engaging in otherwise illegal behavior," she said.

The university has sent an email to faculty, students and staff, saying they reiterate their commitment to freedom of expression, including the right to peacefully and lawfully protest.

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Original post:
What rights do protesters at the U of M encampment have? - KARE11.com

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