SEATTLE — A federal judge has blocked the University of Washington from billing the College Republicans a $17,000 security fee for a campus rally on grounds that it violates free speech rights.
The Seattle Times reports that U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman made the order Friday. After the student Republican group holds its event, lawyers for both sides are expected back in court for a preliminary injunction hearing to determine whether the UW’s policy for billing this and other such events are constitutional.
College Republicans have invited the Vancouver, Washington, based group Patriot Prayer to speak in Red Square at 1 p.m. Saturday. The club bills it as a free speech event. A number of student groups are planning to stage counter protests.
