Rightful Protest or Heckler's Veto?

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 students in May 2017.

These are tense times on college campuses. Politics are polarized and some controversial speakers have been disinvited due to worries that the speech could turn violent. Now, a Libertarian think tank has proposed model legislation that limits the power of administrators on public college campuses to take a political stand or disinvite a controversial speaker. Proponents say they are furthering the First Amendment. Opponents worry about hate speech. NPR reports.

Questions...

•What do you think of the legislation described in this story?

•What should be the line between acceptable protest of a speaker and an unacceptable protest?

•What should be the line between a controversial speaker and a hate speaker?