Virginia college student, Christian Parks, wins lawsuit over college’s ‘free speech zone’
photo Jennifer Moo via Flickr
A Virginia college student has won a major victory against his school after campus police ordered him to stop preaching in the school’s courtyard last fall because that area of campus was outside of the school’s “free speech zone.”
Christian Parks sued Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Virginia, earlier this year, claiming his First Amendment rights were violated, CBN News reported.
“When plaintiff Christian Parks, a student at TNCC, sought to preach and discuss his religious views in an open, outdoor plaza on campus, TNCC officials required him to stop in part because his speech might offend someone,” his lawsuit read in part.
“Defendants took these actions because of the content and viewpoint of Parks’ expression, because they feared his expression would prompt complaints, and because they wanted to pacify those who might be offended by his expression.”
The Virginia Community College System has agreed to pay Parks $25,000 and has eliminated its so-called “free speech zone” policy, which relegated student expression to specified areas.
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s office elected not to defend the policy in court, and it was suspended in April.
“Once the suit was filed, our office got all parties together to help facilitate a solution prior to extensive litigation,” Michael Kelly, spokesman for the attorney general, said.
Parks’ attorney said the case has resulted in greater freedom of expression for students.
“As a result of the case, the Virginia Community College System and Thomas Nelson Community College have changed their policies to allow much greater freedom of expression for students,” Travis Barham, an attorney with the group, said.
The expectation is that Parks will take advantage of the new policy and resume preaching on the Hampton campus.
