Demonstrations and the Changing Face of Public Speech in the United States: A View from the End of Apartheid in South Africa

The current climate in the United States could be described as unprecedented. Demonstrations, protests and assemblies – large and small – over the coronavirus, racial injustice and police use of force are pushing the boundaries of protected speech under the First Amendment. Cities are being forced to make difficult decisions about how to react, and the risk of missteps has never been higher. 

This presentation focuses on the limits of municipal authority under the First Amendment and how to manage speech - both of the general public and municipal employees. We are privileged to have Neil Diamond, former city manager and CFO of multiple cities in South Africa, discuss how the now majority African National Congress managed the transition from protest to governance in post-Apartheid South Africa. The lessons from South Africa are highly applicable to the current situation in the United States, especially when viewed through the lens of constitutional limitations on regulating speech. Please join us for this informative presentation.

When

Thursday, Oct. 8
9-10 a.m. PDT/Noon - 1 p.m. EDT

To access the presentation materials and webinar recording, please click here.