Identity of Speakers
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Jasper Wirtshafter
Student
OtherJasper is a Bloomington resident.
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Benjamin Robinson
Faculty/Staff
OtherBenjamin is a tenured professor of German Studies at IU Bloomington.
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Madeleine Meldrum
Student
OtherMadeleine is a current IU graduate student.
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Rally or protest
Lawsuit
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Incident Political Orientation:
Left wing -
Incident Responses:
Litigation
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Incident Status:
In litigation Federal District Court
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
The ACLU of Indiana has filed a lawsuit against Indiana University Bloomington, alleging that the university violated the First Amendment rights of three individuals by imposing a one-year ban on IU campus after the three individuals participated in protests at a historic public forum for free speech on campus. The protests were focused on demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and addressing Israel’s military response following the Oct. 7 attack.
The complaint alleged that the ban not only undermines fundamental democratic rights but also represents an arbitrary and undemocratic suppression of free expression. The ACLU of Indiana is seeking both a legal declaration that the university cannot restrict free speech rights in this manner and potential damages, as well as the chilling effect on campus discourse.
