Columbia University Institute Wins MRIOTD Award

Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute has filed a suit against President Trump, alleging that Trump has breached the First Amendment rights of two people, Holly O’Reilly and Joe Papp, because he has blocked them on Twitter.

Who knew that the First Amendment also included the freedom to listen? Well, it doesn’t. And blocking anyone on Twitter for whatever reason, or no reason at all, does not prevent Holly O’Reilly, Joe Papp, you, or anyone else from speaking their mind.

The fact that Columbia is taking this suit is indicative of just how polluted higher education has become with their disdain for the Constitution. For taking this matter to court on 1st Amendment grounds earns Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute the Lunch Counter’s Most Ridiculous Item Of The Day Award.

As an aside, and winning an honorable mention is PETA, for “representing” a monkey named Naruto. Naruto took selfies using British nature photographer David Slater’s camera. PETA claims that the monkey holds the copyright to the pictures. The case has risen to a three-judge panel in the 9th Circus Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Naruto could not be reached for comment.

Links: No, Trump isn’t breaching your First Amendment rights by blocking you on Twitter  |  Trump blocked some people from his Twitter account. Is that unconstitutional?  |  Monkey-selfie copyright lawsuit returns to court