Conservative student organization Turning Point USA was forced to take down its recruitment table at Santa Monica College and told that their attempt at exercising free speech was a “violation of the school Constitution.”
Two weeks ago, three conservative activists set up a table on the Santa Monica College campus to recruit members for student organization Turning Point USA when they were approached by members of the Associated Student Body, who told them they had to take their table down because they were not an official club.
In video taken of the encounter (below), one of the student body representatives warns the conservative organization that tabling on the public school campus prior to being instated as a club could jeopardize their chances of becoming an official club — a policy which is not stated anywhere in the school Constitution. The same student tells the activists that they cannot even collect signatures if they take down the table.
“They need to know the Constitution,” a student says, in reference to the SMC Inter-Club Council Constitution. She later retracts this point by saying that the conservative group can collect their signatures, but only in another area of campus, not where they’re currently located.
“So free speech in one area of campus but not the other,” one conservative activist replies.
“That’s not what I’m saying,” the Associated Student Body representative retorts, as the other two jump in, growing increasingly contentious with the conservatives.
The Santa Monica College Freedom of Expression Policy seems to indicate that the conservative activists were within their rights to gather signatures:
“Santa Monica College has many outdoor areas where students may gather for discussion, communication of ideas, distribution of literature, and collection of signatures on petitions. These activities do not generally require prior approval by the College. In engaging in such activities, all laws must be complied with, such as not blocking pedestrian passageways (Penal Code Section 647c) and not disturbing the peace (Penal Code Section 415).”
More importantly, according to the California and United States Constitution, freedom of speech is a right. Especially on a taxpayer-funded, community college campus.
The activists for Turning Point USA took down their table but remained on campus recruiting members.