Barbara Greenberg, J.D. Showcases Free Speech, Press, Assembly, And Religion

When America’s founders crafted the Bill of Rights, they appended to the Constitution a set of ten amendments which were revolutionary in their guarantees of individual freedom. No amendment to the Constitution is more important -- or has created more controversy -- than the First Amendment, which includes protections for free speech, the free exercise of religion, the right to peaceably assemble and freedom of the press. What is speech? Who has the right to speak? What types of speech are prohibited? Is the law different if you’re famous? How does the freedom of the press apply in the age of social media? What types of assemblies are allowed? Should any assemblies be curtailed? Does separation of church and state still exist? What is religion? And who gets to decide?

On Thursday, February 4, Barbara Greenberg, J.D. begins a four part series at Lakewood Public Library exploring the First Amendment. In the first class, which takes place on Thursday, February 4 at 7 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium, Greenberg will discuss freedom of speech. Later classes in the series will consider freedom of the press (February 11), freedom of assembly (February 18), and freedom of religion (February 25).

Barbara Greenberg earned her juris doctorate from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. She has worked as a magistrate at Bedford Municipal Court as well as the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. Her four part series on the First Amendment takes place as part of the Laura and Alvin Siegal Lifelong Learning Program in affiliation with Case Western Reserve University. The goal of the Lifelong Learning Program is to provide opportunities for the public to interact with scholars and to participate in an ongoing discussion. Greenberg’s program takes place at 7 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium. Admission is free and open to all.