‘Charlie Kirk Bill’ going through Tennessee legislature raises debate on campus free speech

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Does free speech on college campuses need extra protections?

A bill named after the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk seeks to do that in Tennessee.

Since Kirk was assassinated on a college campus in Utah back in September, there have been many discussions over whether or not freedom of speech on campuses is truly protected.

Maddie Pickell with UTC’s chapter of Turning Point USA, the organization that Charlie Kirk founded and led until his death, knows first hand the challenges that can come with running a political organization on campus.

Their organization was initially denied by the school’s Student Government Association during a meeting last October from establishing a chapter at the school.

However, the dean of students reversed that decision, allowing TPUSA on campus.

Pickell says that experience sticks in her mind.

She said, “Being able to be on campus as our first amendment right and speak to other students who might not be like-minded it’s just amazing, and I know I’ve learned a lot from it. So I want others to be able to learn from that…. Once you are doing free speech, everyone gets to speak it’s not just one side. It’s both.”

The bill in question, Senate Bill 1741 would require educational institutions to adopt policies affirming they will protect free speech.

It is worth noting that UTC already has a free speech policy outlined on their website pursuant to existing state law.

The bill would require that schools would not be able to deny any speaker or organization from holding events on campus for political reasons.

However, some Senate Democrats raised concerns that the protections outlined would effectively criminalize protest of any invited speaker, as the bill calls for schools to defend speakers from anyone who wishes to disrupt their events.

Sen. Jeff Yarbro said, “In the name of free speech we are giving the speakers the right to speak and the audience the right to sit quietly and listen. That’s not free speech.”

Sen. Charlane Oliver added, “We are creating two tiers of freedom of speech…Opposition to speech is free speech.”

Senate Republicans argued that this bill would protect both speakers and protestors, especially considering what happened to Kirk.

Sen. Adam Lowe said, “(Charlie Kirk) didn’t die walking through Walmart picking up milk. He didn’t die at the Raceway. He didn’t die while playing ball. He died on a college campus, challenging people, challenging ideas and making them think.”

Pickell says that free expression is critical to the student experience.

She said, “I think that every school should have a mandate where you were able to speak your mind because when you stop speaking to people who might not be like-minded or speaking to people that are like-minded, that’s when you start to lose connection with people and that’s when things just start to turmoil because you don’t know how others feel.”

The bill has passed the Tennessee Senate, and is currently heading through committees in the Tennessee House.