ACLU of Northern California just sent a letter to Cal Poly Humbolt regarding the hard closure and continued media access restrictions

ACLU of Northern California just sent a letter to Cal Poly Humbolt regarding the hard closure and continued media access restrictions. Thank you ACLU of Northern California.

You can read the entire letter which includes legal citations. I am highlighting some excerpts.

"Dear President Jackson: We write on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the First Amendment Coalition to express concern about Cal Poly Humboldt’s “hard closure”1 and restrictions to media access on campus.2 Our organizations work to protect the free speech and free press values enshrined in both federal and state law. We believe that the university’s policy limiting public access—and especially press access—is constitutionally suspect. We recognize that this closure has been asserted in response to the recent civil unrest and involvement of law enforcement at Cal Poly Humboldt,3 but it is precisely in these moments that reporting by a free press is essential. We urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to lift this campus-wide closure."

"Pursuant to both policy and practice, Cal Poly Humboldt maintains spaces on its campus that constitute a designated public forum.4 Any restriction on access or speech in these spaces must therefore satisfy constitutional review."

"Lastly, and in regards to reports that a member of the press was detained by law enforcement officers or otherwise prevented from newsgathering while on campus this week, we would like to take this opportunity to respectfully remind the university that the press, including student journalists, are not the enemy. They are people doing the brave, tireless, and sometimes messy work of reporting on public events. They should be afforded the university’s respect, and the public’s gratitude."