Oklahoma passed a new law intended to crack down on religious discrimination against student organizations, reports The Christian Post. All Oklahoma students, whether they are in public colleges, universities or graduate school, are required to complete a free speech training course within the first year of enrollment.
The Oklahoma Free Speech Committee is developing “a free speech training that shall include information on the expressive activities that are protected by the First Amendment.”
Students will learn that disrupting or preventing others from taking part in an event is unconstitutional, and anything considered “hate speech” is still free speech and protected by the U.S. Constitution. Furthermore, their college’s outdoor campus areas are forums of public expression, where they have a right to assemble and hand out literature.
Senate Bill 1725 was signed into law last month after both the state Senate and House of Representatives in Oklahoma passed it.
In both chambers, all opposition came from Democrats, with only one supporter from the party in each branch of the state government. Some critics argue that forcing students to take a free speech course is a contradiction of itself and is actually limiting free speech.
Tina Descovich, CEO of Moms for Liberty, doesn't see it that way.
“I think the law is trying to bring free speech back to America and college campuses,” Descovich states.
She also notes that other states of the union will be watching to see how the law is enforced in Oklahoma.
“The great thing about states is they are the incubator, and I think people will look to see how this plays out. Probably will pause and wait and see if there's follow up lawsuits, if the law stands,” says Descovich. “Then, if it's successful and we see progress, other states will probably try to adopt something similar.”
