The First Amendment prevents Congress from passing any laws that abridge the freedom of speech. But what does that actually mean?

On Sunday, April 2, Professor Meg Mott considers the history of speech laws in the United States, how states and municipalities have tried to curb offensive speech, and how the Supreme Court has ruled on these efforts.

The talk begins at 2 p.m.at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Meetinghouse at 108 School Street in Bennington. It is free and open to the public, and the building is accessible to all people.

Mott will explore how speech fits into the cycle of our democracy. While some argue that limits on speech are necessary for marginalized persons to feel welcome in the public sphere, others argue that the criminalization of speech serves the needs of the penal state more than the general public.

All arguments are welcome as we make full use of our reasoning powers to bring the First Amendment to life!

After twenty years of teaching political theory and constitutional law at Marlboro College, Meg Mott has taken her love of argument to the general public. Her award winning series on the first ten amendments, Debating Our Rights, brings civil discussions on contentious issues to public libraries and colleges.

The program is funded by the Vermont Humanities Council and co-sponsored by the American Association of University Women, Bennington Branch, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bennington.