Freedom gifts for
everyone on your list.

holiday-2023-01-landscape-image

Snapchatting Cheerleader Tests Speech on Social Media

In 2017, 14-year-old Brandi Levy went on Snapchat and directed some colorful language at her school and others when she learned that she had not landed a spot on the varsity cheerleading squad.

After being suspended from the junior varsity squad for violating its code of conduct, she and her parents took the school district to court, arguing it did not have the right to punish her off-campus speech.

Four years later, the Supreme Court agreed, ruling that the First Amendment limits public schools’ ability to regulate off-campus speech delivered via social media.

Levy, now 19, talks about the incident and recounts the four-year journey that resulted in a landmark free speech case.

First Five Now is a Freedom Forum conversation that explores topical issues and features current newsmakers who are using the five freedoms of the First Amendment to guide their work.

Related Content

Electronic sign showing word

Cancel Culture: Censorship, Civil Right or Something Else?

There’s no shortage of passionate opinions about cancel culture and no real agreement on what…
Read More
FirstFiveCol_10.7.21

6 Key First Amendment Rulings from the 2021-22 Supreme Court Term

The Supreme Court’s October 2021 term was an eventful one for those concerned about the…
Read More
Christian and American flags

Perspective: Government Speech Doctrine Is a Dangerous Path Toward Censorship

Free speech gets complicated when speech is in government spaces or by government officials.
Read More

We’ve gathered the results on where America stands on freedom of assembly.