Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship

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Free Speech is under assault for students in Louisiana. Here's what's happening, and how we can fight back.

THE ISSUE:

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Across Louisiana, students are increasingly finding their voices restricted—whether through abrupt cancellations of performances, punitive discipline, or overly broad laws that chill open expression in classrooms and on campuses. These incidents span K-12 schools and higher education, reflecting a broader cultural and political trend toward silencing youth and educators who address difficult or controversial topics. LA-CAC is actively tracking this issue throughout the state, and we are finding an alarming statewide trend toward the suppression of student speech.

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RECENT EXAMPLES:

Baton Rouge: “Enough! Plays to End Gun Violence” (2025)

In October 2025, the student-led Baton Rouge production Echoes of Enough: An Evening of Art, Truth, and Hope was canceled at the last minute by school and city officials.

• The play, part of a national initiative giving youth a platform to speak about gun violence, had full parental consent and institutional approval.

• Officials attended rehearsals and provided oversight—then abruptly canceled the show without public explanation.

• The suppression silenced student voices on one of the most urgent issues facing young people today.​ You can read our press release here.

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 LSU Student Arrests at Presidential Search Committee (2025)

On October 1, 2025, seven students from LSU, many members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), were arrested during a public comment session of LSU’s Presidential Search Committee.

• Gabriella Juárez, an officer with SDS, exceeded the three-minute limit allotted for public comment, refused to yield the microphone when time was up, and was forcibly removed by LSU Police. Juárez has said that police became hostile once they realized she is transgender.

• Six other students were arrested outside after following Juárez and reportedly interfering with the police’s removal process.

• Several students allege excessive force and discriminatory treatment during arrest and booking.

• The arrests send a chilling message about dissent and student participation in university governance, raising questions about how strict procedural rules (like time limits) are enforced, who enforces them, what constitutes “lawful directives,” and when policing of speech becomes suppression.

• You can read the LSU SDS statement on what happened here.

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​LEGISLATIVE ISSUES:

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The "Don't Say Gay" Bill:

After years of trying and failing to gain traction and a governor's signature, the legislature in 2024 finally passed Louisiana's "Don't Say Gay" Bill, HB 122 (now LA RS 17:412) prohibiting the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity. The law is a clear violation of free speech and represents the state's ongoing suppression of LGBTQ+ voices.

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The Ten Commandments Bill:

Also signed into law by current governor Jeff Landry in 2024, HB 71 required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public classroom, a clear violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. In June, 2025, a three-judge panel of the  5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck it down as unconstitutional, but after an appeal by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, the full court vacated that ruling, saying the full court has decided to hear arguments in the case.

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Senate Bill 294 — Restrictions on Campus Free Speech

Yet another law passed and signed in 2024 was Senate Bill 294, which excludes from free speech protection any acts that carry criminal penalties. Touted in true Orwellian fashion as "pro-Free Speech," the new law will, in effect, ban acts of civil disobedience, and open the door for lawmakers to criminalize any activity they want stopped.

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​CONCLUSION:

​In tracking these incidents, several patterns and impacts become clear:

• Art, identity, and civic issues are frequent targets. When students use art to address gun violence, identity, or social justice, their work is disproportionately vulnerable to cancellation or scrutiny.

• Rules and “decorum” are being used as tools of suppression. Speech limits, administrative oversight, and conduct codes are enforced selectively against dissenting voices.

• Administrative opacity fuels distrust. Many decisions are made behind closed doors, with little to no public accountability.

• The chilling effect is real. Teachers self-censor to avoid controversy; students hesitate to speak or create freely.

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Louisiana students are being told—sometimes literally—that their voices don’t belong in the public square. These acts of censorship deny young people the right to learn, think, and speak freely about the world they are inheriting. We urge educators, administrators, policymakers, and the public to stand with Louisiana’s students in defending their freedom to create, question, and be heard.