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York Univ. Professor Wins Free Speech Fight

By Barry Weisleder  / June 2007 issue of Socialist Action newspaper

 

 

Pro-Palestinian activist Daniel Freeman-Maloy will be back at Toronto’s York University this fall, louder and more determined than ever to build a movement against war and occupation, following a dual victory over university officials.
        

In the spring of 2004, the Jewish political science major was suspended for three years for using a megaphone at two anti-Zionist rallies in a common public space on campus.  While the university withdrew the suspension after three months, Freeman-Maloy went on to sue York and its President Lorna Marsden for $850,000 for defamation, economic harm, and limiting his academic freedom.  That battle ended in May 2007 with a confidential agreement that Dan describes as “satisfactory”.
        

Along the way, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld his right to sue a university president for “misfeasance in public office.”
        

Canadian Federation of Students’ Ontario president Jesse Greener praised the settlement for “sending a message that students will be able to enjoy free speech on campus, without administrators acting unilaterally against students because of their political views.”

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