Attorneys question restrictions on North Carolina Central University protests
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NIGHTLY NEWS THAT'S AT 6.30,
RIGHT HERE ON WRAL.
>> WRAL INVESTIGATES IS ASKING
ONE NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
UNIVERSITY ARRESTED SEVERAL
PEOPLE DURING A PEACEFUL
PROTEST ON CAMPUS. WE HAVE TO
ADMINISTER AID IS WHY THOSE
PEOPLE WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
AND WHILE THE UNIVERSITY SAYS
THE PROTESTERS WERE NOT ALLOWED
ON CAMPUS, ESPECIALLY SINCE
THE SCHOOL IS A PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY, THE BUREAU
INVESTIGATES SARAH KRUEGER IS
LIVE ON CAMPUS WITH SOME OF
THOSE ANSWERS. SARAH.
>> JERROLD, NORTH CAROLINA
CENTRAL IS A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.
SO THEIR EXPLANATION THAT
PEOPLE HAD TO BE INVITED HERE
TO CAMPUS STOOD OUT TO ME.
I'VE NOW TALKED MULTIPLE
ATTORNEYS ON CAMERA AND OFF
WHO SAY THAT SOUNDS LIKE A
POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
>> 5 PEOPLE ARRESTED DURING A
PROTEST ON NC SIU'S CAMPUS.
IN A STATEMENT, THE UNIVERSITY
SAYING THE EVENT WAS ORGANIZED
BY A GROUP NOT AFFILIATED WITH
THE UNIVERSITY AND AS SUCH THEY
WERE NOT ALLOWED ON CAMPUS
STATING SUCH INDIVIDUALS AND
GROUPS MUST BE SPONSORED OR
INVITED BY AN OFFICIAL
UNIVERSITY OR REGISTERED
STUDENT ORGANIZATION. DO YOU
THINK IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL FOR
A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY TO
RESTRICT?
>> WHO CAN COME ON TO THEIR
CAMPUS AND PROTEST.
>> I DON'T. DANIAL MEYER IS AN
ATTORNEY IN DURHAM TO SAY
STRANGERS CAN COME ON CAMPUS
UNLESS THERE'S AND SOME TIE
JUST SEEMS TO SMACK OF SMACK A
VIOLATION OF THE FIRST
AMENDMENT. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO ASSEMBLE IN PUBLIC PLACES.
I ASKED NCCU WHY THE
INDIVIDUALS WERE NOT WELCOME
THE EVEN THOUGH IT'S A PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY AND THE PROTESTERS
INCLUDED PEOPLE AFFILIATED WITH
NCCU CENTRAL IS PART OF THE
UNC SYSTEM WHICH HAS A POLICY
ON FREE SPEECH AND FREE
EXPRESSION. IT SAYS UNIVERSITY
MEMBERS CAN ASSEMBLE AS LONG
AS IT DOESN'T SUBSTANTIALLY
DISRUPT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE
SCHOOL. MYERS SAYS CENTRAL
COULD BREAK UP A PROTEST ON
THOSE GROUNDS YET THAT IS NOT
WHAT THEY CITED. PRESIDENT FROM
OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE SYSTEM
SHOWS OUTSIDE GROUPS CAN AND
DO PROTEST ON CAMPUS. AS WAS
THE CASE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH
MANY PROTESTS AROUND A
CONFEDERATE STATUE AT UNC
CHAPEL HILL. THE FIRST
AMENDMENT IS BROAD. PROTEST
GROUPS CAN COME TO A PUBLIC
PLACE AND PROTEST.
AND I REACHED OUT TO THE UNC
SYSTEM. A SPOKESPERSON TELLS ME
THEY DO BELIEVE THAT NCC USED
POLICIES ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH
THEIRS.
>> I AM STILL AWAITING ANY KIND
OF A RESPONSE FROM CENTRAL