Lesson Learned? CSUF Prof. Loses 1st Amendment Case

FRESNO, CA (KMJ)  A Fresno State professor apparently needs a few lessons on the First Amendment.

In May of 2016, Dr. Greg Thatcher was videotaped erasing chalk messages written on a campus sidewalk by a pro-life student group decrying abortion.

The video (click to watch) shows Thatcher getting into a heated confrontation with the female students who maintained they had permission from the University to post the messages.  Thatcher responded by saying, “You have permission to put it down, and I have permission to get rid of it. This is our part of free speech. College campuses are not free speech areas.  Do you understand? Obviously you don’t understand.”

The group, FSSL, sued the professor of public health and earned a clear victory with a settlement.  A judge on Thursday ordered Thatcher to pay $17,000 in restitution and to attend training on the First Amendment.

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Thatcher will also pay $1,000 to students Bernadette Tasy and Jesus Herrera.

Thatcher says the settlement payment will be made by his insurance company, not out of his pocket.

“I did not, in any way, admit to any wrongdoing,” Thatcher told Fox News.  “I did agree to sit through a training seminar because I love to learn others’ thoughts and opinions.”

The Alliance Defending Freedom represented FSSL and will conduct the First Amendment training for Thatcher.