A New Jersey poet lost his free-speech appeal launched when his governmental position was eliminated after he blamed Israel for the September 2001 terrorists attacks in the United States.
The poet, Amiri Baraka, suggested in his poem Somebody Blew Up America that Israel knew in advance of the attacks. He claimed that wiping out his job violated his right to free speech. The court ruled that the action against the poet was legislative and not political because the government did not actually fire him.
The poet, Amiri Baraka, suggested in his poem Somebody Blew Up America that Israel knew in advance of the attacks. He claimed that wiping out his job violated his right to free speech. The court ruled that the action against the poet was legislative and not political because the government did not actually fire him.