Q&A: Experts break down Freedom of Speech, what it means – KCRA Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA)

The events in Charlottesville have rekindled debates over free speech and the unintended consequences that come with it.

Viral photos from the rally show men holding tiki torches and marching on the University of Virginia campus as they protest the removal of a Confederate monument.

In many of those photos, the men are clearly identifiable and through social media were named. In two particular instances, a University of Nevada - Reno student is facing backlash at school and a Berkeley man lost his job at the restaurant Top Dog.

Instagram/phedlund via CNN

KCRA 3s Dana Griffin sat down with two experts to talk about the Freedom of Speech and how it works.

Thomas Dodson is co-founder of Above the Fray, a social media awareness organization that empowers safe and responsible social media users.

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Brian Landsberg is a Constitutional law professor with the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento.

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Q: If someone is fired from a job, does that violate their Constitutional rights?

Landsberg: If being fired by a private employer, the answer is that your rights are probably not being violated.

Dodson: The thing that most people dont think about is that freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences.

Q: What protections do people have under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution?

Landsberg: The Constitution only protects people from government action, not private companies. Theres some protections for public employees, but even those are somewhat limited.

Dodson: I can string together any number of words right now and spout them out to you and they can be as ugly and hate-filled and vile as possible. That doesnt mean Im free from the consequences from those words.

Q: Should people be fired for sharing opinions that differ from their employers?

Landsberg: Many employers just want to steer clear of politics and they dont want to be identified with political speech of their employees.

Dodson: Employers have to look at their employees when theyre going through something like this and say, "I dont want that person working at my company. I dont want that person associated with my business."

Q: Which groups are protected by the constitution?

Landsberg: The California Labor Code provides some limited protections for speech, for political-type speech. And the National Labor Relations Act provides protections for speech connected with unions.

Q: How does social media play a role in the court of public opinion?

Dodson: Everyone has a camera. Everyone has a phone. Everyone is taking pictures and shooting video.

So, when you go to an event like this, youre saying not just to the group thats there, but youre saying to the world, This is how I believe, this is what I think.

If you associate yourself with an extremist view, on any side, youre likely to come under the ire of your employer.

Q: What do you think about the UNR Student and Top Dog Restaurant employee who are facing criticism because they participated in the Charlottesville rally?

Landsberg: Thats too bad for them because the Constitution isnt going to help them.

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Q&A: Experts break down Freedom of Speech, what it means - KCRA Sacramento