Johnson C. Smith University: FIREAccused of Criminal Conspiracy Told Not to Speak Out

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Johnson C. Smith University: FIREAccused of Criminal Conspiracy Told Not to Speak Out

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Johnson C. Smith University

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In May 2017, Johnson C. Smith University accused students of participating in a widespread “criminal conspiracy” involving allegedly fraudulent transactions on their meal plans — and ordered the students not to speak to anyone about it. This instruction chilled their right to speak out publicly — or privately to an attorney — about a matter of public controversy. FIREwrote to the university’s president on May 23, calling on the institution to retract its breathtaking gag order. The university failed to respond to ��ýapp�ٷ�’s letter.

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