NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 31
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a statement that reiterated
the earlier institutional stance
of not taking positions on
“… political causes, conflicts
or events. Our practice is to
keep the common, shared
areas of our campus free of
messaging or activities, as
displays of this nature could
be interpreted as political
statements made on behalf of
Cranbrook …
“
As a private institution, it
is our responsibility — rather,
our obligation — to ensure
that our campus is as safe and
welcoming as possible to our
many diverse audiences.
“While Cranbrook provides
all of our community mem-
bers with opportunities to
express themselves in a vari-
ety of ways, they must do so
in a manner that is respectful
so that all those who set foot
on our campus feel safe, wel-
come and valued. We will not
tolerate activities or language
that disrupts our campus,
threatens the safety of our
community, or that violates
policies or the code of con-
duct that governs student and
community behavior.
“Our commitment
remains — as it always has —
on the safety and well-being
of our entire campus, and
we are in continued dialogue
with our community to
maintain this commitment.”
COMMUNITY RESPONSE
A local alumnus of
Cranbrook’s K-12 schools,
Adam Bleznak, was con-
cerned about the “accusatory
and exclusionary” tone of
the student/alumni letter to
Cranbrook Academy admin-
istration.
“In keeping with
Cranbrook tradition, I want-
ed to try to create a bridge, to
find commonalities and cre-
ate conversations,” he said.
Bleznak posted a petition
titled “In Pursuit of Peace
and Mutual Prosperity: A
Response from Cranbrook’s
Zionist Community” on
change.org. Since its posting
on Nov. 8, 325 individuals
have signed it.
Signing the protest let-
ter has had negative career
repercussions for at least
one individual. David Klein,
owner of the David Klein
Gallery with locations in
Birmingham and Detroit,
has severed its business
relationship ties with a
Cranbrook Academy gradu-
ate who signed the letter.
“I am deeply saddened
whenever innocent lives
are lost,” Klein stated.
“Moreover, as a gallery
owner representing a diverse
group of artists, I advocate
and fully support free speech
and artistic expression.
However, the letter is about
much more than free speech.
I cannot represent artists
who sign on to a letter whose
rhetoric is vehemently antise-
mitic and denies Israel’s right
to exist.”
T
he protest letter sent by Cranbrook Art
Academy students and alumni claims
that removal of the Palestinian
flags violates their free speech
rights: “Supporting marginalized
communities and standing in sol-
idarity with liberation movements
are fundamental to our rights to
speech, expression and creativi-
ty,” the student body letter states.
“The current stance taken by
the Academy infringes on these
rights, which are pivotal to academ-
ic freedom and resonate with the broader
global community.”
However, first amendment rights
are not unlimited. According to Robert
Sedler, professor emeritus at Wayne
State University Law School who is
a constitutional law expert, there are
“reasonable time, place and manner lim-
itations on free speech” as determined
through case law over the years. (The
first amendment to the U.S. Constitution,
reprinted on facing page, was intend-
ed to protect government from
restricting speech by the people.)
“A private school is not subject
to the first amendment, and a
school can impose restrictions as
they affect the school. Targeting
and harassment are not protected
speech,” Sedler explains.
As an example, he says that
free speech rights do not permit
an individual holding a flag to
confront and intimidate another person
“one on one.”
Sedler points out that a school can’t
discriminate against students based
on their ethnic or religious origin.
According to Sedler, the U.S. “protects
offensive speech more than any other
country,” noting that Canada, Germany
and other countries prohibit pro-Nazi
public speech in contrast to the U.S.
Robert Sedler
The Free Speech Issue
Fight Campus
Antisemitism
with a New Legal
Protection Helpline
ADL, Hillel International,
the Louis D. Brandeis
Center for Human Rights
Under Law and Gibson,
Dunn & Crutcher LLP have
announced the Campus
Antisemitism Legal Line
(CALL), a free legal protec-
tion helpline for students
who have experienced
antisemitism.
With antisemitism on
campus reaching all-time
highs since Oct. 7, this new
resource comes at a criti-
cal moment for the Jewish
community as incidents of
harassment, vandalism and
assault have increased by 388
percent over the same period
last year.
“No longer will anyone
be able to harass Jewish stu-
dents with impunity, and no
longer will a university or
school be able to just look the
other way,” said ADL CEO
Jonathan Greenblatt.
Any student, family, fac-
ulty or staff member can
go to the CALL website or
text “CALLhelp” to 51555 to
report incidents of antisemit-
ic discrimination, intimida-
tion, harassment, vandalism
or violence that may necessi-
tate legal action. Lawyers will
assess reports of antisemitic
discrimination and hate,
conduct in-depth informa-
tion-gathering interviews and
provide pro bono representa-
tion for victims who choose
to move forward with specif-
ic cases.
CALL will also provide
referrals to social services,
mental health counseling ser-
vices and other relevant sup-
port services in their area.