Whatever side of the political spectrum you situate yourself on, whatever your views on this or that world event, you have the right to your opinion, and you have the right to make that opinion heard.

We live in difficult times, where conflict has become commonplace. Many colleges and universities have responded by trying to curtail student speech. If they can minimize conflict, they reason, they can keep campus peaceful and, you know, head off issues of liability.

Beyond the fact that restricting protest almost never ends well, in most cases, it's a violation of individual rights. Most university policies protect free speech, and few schools want to be viewed as denying students First Amendment rights. In a crisis, though, these facts don't always prevent them from charging students en masse.

If you've been arrested by your school and are facing charges like disorderly conduct or unlawful right to assemble, we can help. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was founded to protect your rights. We know the law; we know your school's policy; we're ready to use both to stand up for you. To find out more, call 888-535-3686 or use our online form to tell us about your situation.

A Wave of Recent Misconduct Allegations

One of the more divisive issues in the last year has been the conflict raging between Israel and Palestine. Supporters of both sides have strong feelings, and rightly so. This isn't a small disagreement. Human lives are at stake. You can understand, then, why students—who professors spend a lot of their time encouraging to take an interest in world events—might be especially passionate about what happens, never mind those thousands of students who have a personal stake in the outcome.

It is the job of a university to teach students and help them grow as scholars and as people. Obviously, campus communities must have rules. No community of any type can long survive without them. The job of learning, though, requires engagement. It requires outspokenness. It requires passion. Charging students with misconduct just because they've chosen to raise their voices would seem to run counter to the mission of education.

More importantly, it is counter to fundamental principles we hold dear as Americans. The First Amendment gives all of us the right to express our opinions and to assemble to do so. To be sure, this right is not unlimited. Private businesses and organizations can limit what we say as employees or members. Schools, on the other hand, don't generally like to be seen as trampling on free speech.

The bottom line is that your right to make your voice heard is protected in many ways as a student:

• If you attend a public university, that university is a government entity and cannot restrict your First Amendment right to protest any issue peacefully.
• If you attend a private university that receives government funds –which includes most universities—the school cannot restrict your right to engage in free speech or protest concerning protected status, including gender, sex, race, religion, and sexual orientation.
• Beyond these rules, most schools have policies that allow for peaceful demonstrations and the exercise of free speech.

If you've been accused of misconduct on the basis of participation in a peaceful protest, your school is almost certainly violating the law or its own internal policies.

Trust the Lento Law Firm

The trouble is, most universities will do what they can to convince you to admit you were at fault, even if you weren't. Or, they'll try to drag out the judicial process so it conflicts with your studies. They might even tell you that you aren't allowed legal representation.

Don't believe them. You always have the right to consult an attorney, and the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is focused on helping students. We know how to talk to colleges and universities. We know how to use their policies to protect you. And no matter what, we're on your side.

To find out more about just what we can do, call 888-535-3686 today or use the online form to tell us more about your case.